Emotional Reactions of Professionals to Challenging Behaviors in People with Intellectual Disabilities: a Qualitative Study

Juliana Reyes-Martín; David Simó-Pinatella; Ana Andrés-Valle

doi:10.14201/scero.32657

Emotional Reactions of Professionals to Challenging Behaviors in People with Intellectual Disabilities: a Qualitative Study

Juliana Reyes-Martín^*
, David Simó-Pinatella
, Ana Andrés-Valle

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Indexed journal article › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Challenging behaviours (CB) in people with intellectual disabilities are a key challenge in residential environments, among other factors due to their emotional impact on support staff. The objective of this research is to explore the experiences of the staff before CBs, their reactions, beliefs, and the resources necessary for their management. The results indicate that CBs generate emotions in direct support staff, modulated by several factors. The perception of self-efficacy, beliefs and causal attributions and the organizational context influence the interpretation and management of CBs. A comprehensive approach that combines training, emotional support and organizational structures is essential.

Translated title of the contribution	Reacciones emocionales de profesionales ante conductas problemáticas en personas con discapacidad intelectual: un estudio cualitativo
Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	11-31
Number of pages	21
Journal	Siglo Cero
Volume	57
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.14201/scero.32657
Publication status	Published - 9 Apr 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

challenging behaviour
direct support staff
emotional responses
Intellectual disability
qualitative study

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10.14201/scero.32657Licence: CC BY-NC-SA

Cite this

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abstract = "Challenging behaviours (CB) in people with intellectual disabilities are a key challenge in residential environments, among other factors due to their emotional impact on support staff. The objective of this research is to explore the experiences of the staff before CBs, their reactions, beliefs, and the resources necessary for their management. The results indicate that CBs generate emotions in direct support staff, modulated by several factors. The perception of self-efficacy, beliefs and causal attributions and the organizational context influence the interpretation and management of CBs. A comprehensive approach that combines training, emotional support and organizational structures is essential.",

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T2 - a Qualitative Study

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AU - Andrés-Valle, Ana

PY - 2026/4/9

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N2 - Challenging behaviours (CB) in people with intellectual disabilities are a key challenge in residential environments, among other factors due to their emotional impact on support staff. The objective of this research is to explore the experiences of the staff before CBs, their reactions, beliefs, and the resources necessary for their management. The results indicate that CBs generate emotions in direct support staff, modulated by several factors. The perception of self-efficacy, beliefs and causal attributions and the organizational context influence the interpretation and management of CBs. A comprehensive approach that combines training, emotional support and organizational structures is essential.

AB - Challenging behaviours (CB) in people with intellectual disabilities are a key challenge in residential environments, among other factors due to their emotional impact on support staff. The objective of this research is to explore the experiences of the staff before CBs, their reactions, beliefs, and the resources necessary for their management. The results indicate that CBs generate emotions in direct support staff, modulated by several factors. The perception of self-efficacy, beliefs and causal attributions and the organizational context influence the interpretation and management of CBs. A comprehensive approach that combines training, emotional support and organizational structures is essential.

KW - challenging behaviour

KW - direct support staff

KW - emotional responses

KW - Intellectual disability

KW - qualitative study

KW - Discapacidad intelectual

KW - estudio cualitativo

KW - reacciones emocionales

KW - personal de apoyo directo

KW - conductas problemáticas

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UR - https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14342/6332

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DO - 10.14201/scero.32657

M3 - Article

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SN - 0210-1696

VL - 57

SP - 11

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JO - Siglo Cero

JF - Siglo Cero

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Emotional Reactions of Professionals to Challenging Behaviors in People with Intellectual Disabilities: a Qualitative Study

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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