Risk factors associated with challenging behaviour in people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities

• Published in: Journal of intellectual disability research Vol. 60; no. 6; pp. 537 - 552
• Main Authors: Poppes, P., van der Putten, A.J.J., Post, W.J., Vlaskamp, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Behavior disorders; Behavior problems; challenging behaviour; Child; Child, Preschool; Comorbidity; Contextual factors; Disabled Persons - psychology; Disabled Persons - statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; Individual Characteristics; Intellectual disabilities; Intellectual Disability - epidemiology; Intellectual Disability - psychology; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Disabilities; Multiply disabled people; Personal characteristics; Problem Behavior - psychology; profound intellectual and multiple disabilities; Risk behavior; Risk Factors; Sensation Disorders - epidemiology; Sensation Disorders - psychology; Sleep Wake Disorders - epidemiology; Sleep Wake Disorders - psychology; Young Adult; risk factors; profound intellectual and multiple disabilities; challenging behaviour
• ISSN: 0964-2633; 1365-2788
• DOI: 10.1111/jir.12268

Background Several factors that correlate with the onset or continuation of challenging behaviour are mentioned in research. These are factors related to persons with ID, but also to direct support professionals and the context. Although many of these factors seem to affect the onset or continuation of challenging behaviour in people with ID in general, results are often inconclusive and have little focus on people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD). The present study aimed to assess the extent to which known factors related to challenging behaviour are also applicable to a group of 198 people with PIMD. Method To determine which factors were associated with challenging behaviour, univariate analyses on associations between known risk factors and challenging behaviour were conducted. The associated factors were then subject to a regression analysis to determine the extent to which they explain the prevalence of challenging behaviour and can thus be seen as factors associated with challenging behaviour. Results The results show that, in particular, factors concerning the personal characteristics of people with PIMD, such as sleeping problems and auditory problems, were related to the variance in mean frequency of challenging behaviour. Only one factor related to the direct support professionals was found: when these professionals had been offered training on the subject of challenging behaviour in people with intellectual disabilities in general, they identified significantly more withdrawn behaviour. We found no contextual factors related to challenging behaviour. Conclusion These findings are generally consistent with findings reported in other studies, especially concerning the personal characteristics of people with PIMD. Further research should focus on the effects of providing safe auditory environments and appropriate sleep schedules for people with PIMD on the occurrence of challenging behaviour.