ORIGINAL ARTICLE
How service-users with intellectual disabilities understand challenging behaviour and approaches to managing it
Aoife Clarke,
Dave Dagnan,
Ian C. Smith,
Aoife Clarke
Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
Search for more papers by this authorDave Dagnan
Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Workington, UK
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Ian C. Smith
Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
Correspondence
Ian C. Smith, Division of Health Research, Furness College, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YG, UK.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAoife Clarke,
Dave Dagnan,
Ian C. Smith,
Aoife Clarke
Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
Search for more papers by this authorDave Dagnan
Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Workington, UK
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Ian C. Smith
Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
Correspondence
Ian C. Smith, Division of Health Research, Furness College, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YG, UK.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Background
This study explored understandings that service-users with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour held around their behaviour, what shaped these understandings, and the relationship between how behaviours are managed and well-being.
Methods
Eight participants (three female, five male) partook in individual semi-structured qualitative interviews. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Results
Three master themes emerged from this analysis: (a) challenging behaviour can be explained via an internal or external frame of reference, with each framework having different implications for how participants attempted to manage behaviour. (b) Positive relationships provide a long-term buffer to challenging behaviour, with positive relationships with family, staff and peers operating through different mechanisms to achieve this. (c) A greater ability to exert power and control in day-to-day life was perceived to reduce challenging behaviour in the long term.
Conclusions
Implications for practice are discussed.
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