Erklärungs- und Handlungsmuster von Mitarbeitenden in besonderen Wohnformen bei aggressiv verstandenem Verhalten von Klient*innen mit geistiger Beeinträchtigung – Implikationen für Sicherheit und Implementierung

Background and objective

The behavior and attitude of staff when clients with intellectual disabilities are perceived to be aggressive influence the extent of safety in assisted living facilities. The study investigates patterns of explanation and action that staff applies as a reaction to client behavior. How this influences further interaction and which needs for development can be derived is also analyzed.

Study design and research methods

Six expert interviews were conducted with employees in assisted living facilities for people with intellectual disabilities and were evaluated using qualitative content analysis.

Results

Clients’ behavior that is experienced as physically and verbally aggressive is described as stressful and safety-relevant in everyday working life. The interviewees mainly use monocausal explanations for clients’ behavior. Aggressive behavior is responded to by creating clear everyday structures, verbal attempts at calming and distraction, but also fixation. Institutional strategies for improving safety are not known by all interviewees. Personnel capacities, time resources, guidelines for action, suitable room structures, and further training are seen as key factors for implementation.

Discussion

The high occurrence of client-related attributions of causes for aggression, employees’ experiences of stress and the comparatively low occurrence of multicausal interventions show the need for an institutional approach to this topic.

Conclusion

Organizations need systematic formats to strengthen client safety and tailored implementation strategies that enable employees to reflect on professional attitudes and actions in order to act in the interests of violence protection in crisis situations.