Challenging behavior, functioning difficulties, and quality of life of adults with intellectual disabilities

Objective: The current study aimed at examining the correlations between challenging behaviors, difficulties in functioning, and quality of life in institutionalized adults with intellectual disabilities. Methods: A sample of 53 people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behavior who resided in a large institutional care facility was recruited. The research questionnaire included the following instruments: (1) The challenging behavior scale; (2) The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0; and (3) The Personal Well-Being Index. Results: No significant correlation was found between challenging behavior and quality of life. However, more challenging behavior found to be correlated with greater difficulties in functioning. Furthermore, a weak correlation was found between difficulties in functioning and quality of life. Participants who had greater difficulty functioning tended to exhibit lower levels of quality of life. No significant associations were found between the sample's personal characteristics (gender, age, and the severity of intellectual disability) and challenging behavior, difficulties in functioning, and quality of life. Conclusion: Empowering personal functioning of people with intellectual disabilities is important in planning rehabilitation interventions. Such interventions are likely to promote a higher quality of life. There is the need for future research to further investigate the relationship found in this study.