Client factors as predictors of restraint and seclusion in people with intellectual disability

To gain more insight into the antecedent factors of restraint in institutionalised people with intellectual disability (ID), the role played by several demographic and psychological client variables was investigated.

The data of 475 people (age range 12-95 years) who were residents in a Dutch institution for people with ID were collected. The severity of restraint was rated on an ordinal scale.

None of the demographic variables height, weight, age, or length of stay were related to the application of restraint. Significant predictors were the psychological variables: low adaptive functioning, the presence of challenging behaviours, and a relatively high intellectual level. Of the challenging behaviours, specifically behaviours other than actual aggressiveness proved to be predictors of restraint.

The fact that actual aggressiveness plays a minor role in predicting restraint is a new finding and should be further examined in future research.