Skip to main content
Log in

Parent-Guardian Evaluation of Physical Restraint Among Adults with Intellectual Disability: a Social Validity Assessment

  • ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Published:
Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Parents-guardians of adults who had intellectual disability completed a social validity assessment that documented their attitudes and opinions about physical restraint. Both parents-guardians of adults that had and had not experienced physical restraint rated most highly that (a) physical restraint should only be used if less intensive procedures have failed and (b) physical restraint can be adapted to ensure safety and reduce risk of harm. They endorsed less favorably that effective use of physical restraint makes it possible for individuals to progress and achieve a better quality of life. The parents-guardians of adults that had not experienced physical restraint differed from the parents-guardians of adults with a physical restraint history in acceptance of physical restraint to ensure safety of their family member. We discuss these findings and implications for habilitation services programs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chan, J., LeBel, J., & Webber, L. (2012). The dollars and sense of restraints and seclusion. Journal of Law and Medicine, 20, 73–81.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, J., Webber, L., & French, P. (2014). The importance of safeguarding rights and the role of legislation: the Australian perspective. In S. Karim (Ed.), A human rights perspective on reducing restrictive practices in intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders (pp. 53–72). Birmingham: British Institute of Learning Disabilities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, J., McDonnell, A., Easton, S., & Sturmey, P. (2003). Social validation data on three methods of physical restraint: views of consumers, staff, and students. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 24, 307–316.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Favell, J. E., McGimsey, J. F., & Jones, M. L. (1978). The use of physical restraint in the treatment of self-injury and as positive reinforcement. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11, 225–241.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • French, P., Chan, J., & Carracher, R. (2010). Realizing human rights in clinical practice and service delivery to persons with cognitive impairment who engage in behaviors of concern. Psychiatry, Psychology, and the Law, 17, 245–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, J. (1996). Physical restraint procedures for managing challenging behaviors presented by mentally retarded adults and children. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 17, 99–134.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E. (1977). Assessing the clinical or applied importance of behavior change through social validation. Behavior Modification, 1, 427–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kinner, S. A., Harvey, C., Hamilton, B., Brophy, L., Roper, C., McSherry, B., & Young, J. T. (2016). Attitudes towards seclusion and restraint in mental health settings: findings from a large, community-based survey of consumers, carers, and mental health professionals. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Services, published online: 12 Aug 2016, pp. 1–10.

  • Lennox, D., Geren, M., & Rourke, D. (2011). Emergency physical restraint: considerations for staff training and supervision. In J. K. Luiselli (Ed.), The handbook of high-risk challenging behaviors in people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (pp. 271–292).

  • Luiselli, J. K. (2011). Therapeutic implementation of physical restraint. In J. K. Luiselli (Ed.), The handbook of high-risk challenging behaviors in intellectual and developmental disabilities (pp. 243–256). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luiselli, J. K. (2013). Descriptive analysis of a staff injury reduction intervention in a human services setting for children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Behavior Modification, 37, 665–679.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luiselli, J. K., Sperry, J. M., & Draper, C. (2015). Social validity assessment of physical restraint intervention by care providers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 8, 170–175.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Magee, S. K., & Ellis, J. (1988). The detrimental effects of physical restraint as a consequence for inappropriate classroom behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 34, 501–504.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonnell, A. A., & Sturmey, P. (2000). The social validation of three physical restraint procedures: a comparison of young people and professional groups. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 21, 85–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonnell, A., Sturmey, P., & Dearden, B. (1993). The acceptability of physical restraint procedures for people with a learning disability. Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 21, 255–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, M. B., Rollyson, J. H., & Reid, D. H. (2012). Evidence-based staff training: a guide for practitioners. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 5, 2–11.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Reed, D. D., Luiselli, J. K., Miller, J. R., & Kaplan, B. A. (2013). Therapeutic restraint and protective holding. In D. D. Reed, F. DiGennaro Reed, & J. K. Luiselli (Eds.), Handbook of crisis intervention and developmental disabilities (pp. 107–120). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rickard, E. D., Chan, J., & Merriman, B. (2013). Issues emanating from the implementation of policies on restraint use with people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 10, 252–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, I. S., & Baer, D. M. (1991). Social validity assessments: is current practice state of the art. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 189–204.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon, J. B., & Sheldon-Sherman, J. A. L. (2013). Legal and ethical issues. In D. D. Reed, F. DiGennaro Reed, & J. K. Luiselli (Eds.), Handbook of crisis intervention and developmental disabilities (pp. 261–279). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Spreat, S., Lipinski, D., Hill, J., & Halpin, M. E. (1986). Safety indices associated with the use of contingent restraint procedures. Applied Research in Mental Retardation, 7, 475–481.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sturmey, P. (2009). It is time to reduce and safely eliminate restrictive behavioral practices. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22, 105–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilli, D. M., & Spreat, S. (2009). Restraint safety in a residential setting for persons with intellectual disabilities. Behavioral Interventions, 24, 127–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (2006). Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. New York: Author.

  • Vause, T., Regehr, K., Feldman, M., Griffiths, D., & Owen, F. (2009). Right to evidence-based treatment for individuals with developmental disabilities: issues on the use of therapeutic punishment. In F. Owen & D. Griffiths (Eds.), Challenges to the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities (pp. 219–239). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, D. E. (2009). Restraint safety: an analysis of injuries related to restraint of people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22, 135–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, M. M. (1978). Social validity: the case for subjective measurement or how applied behavior analysis is finding its heart. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11, 202–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to James K. Luiselli.

Ethics declarations

Parents-guardians provided written informed consent for emergency PR when their daughter/son was admitted to the habilitation services program and when PR comprised a written behavior support plan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Luiselli, J.K., Sperry, J.M., Draper, C. et al. Parent-Guardian Evaluation of Physical Restraint Among Adults with Intellectual Disability: a Social Validity Assessment. Adv Neurodev Disord 1, 73–78 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-017-0013-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-017-0013-9

Keywords

Navigation