How does architecture contribute to reducing behaviours that challenge? A scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Healthcare Architecture
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Challenging behaviors can negatively impact the quality of life (QoL) for individuals with intellectual impairments.
• Architectural design is a significant environmental factor influencing these behaviors and overall QoL.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review on the contribution of architecture to the QoL of individuals with intellectual impairments and challenging behaviors.
• To identify gaps in the existing literature and delineate future research directions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four databases.
• Search terms included 'architecture,' 'intellectual impairment,' 'challenging behavior,' and 'QoL.'
• The review analyzed 18 papers, broadening criteria to include studies with partial concept overlap and those related to autism.

Main Results:

• The current body of research has not jointly examined architecture, QoL, intellectual impairment, and challenging behaviors.
• A significant gap exists in understanding how architectural elements influence the QoL for this population.

Conclusions:

• Further research is essential to investigate the specific contributions of architecture to the QoL of individuals with intellectual impairments and challenging behaviors.
• Future studies should also explore the parallels and distinctions between the needs of this group and individuals with autism.