Staff and Challenging Behaviours of People with Developmental Disabilities: Influence of Individual and Contextual Factors on the Transactional Stress Process

Abstract Background: A lack of association between cognitive, emotional and behavioural variables is reported in research on stress of staff dealing with challenging behaviours of people with developmental disabilities. Aims: The aim of this paper is to explore the influence of individual and ecological factors on the transactional stress process. Method: A semi-structured interview format based on the different phases of the stress process has been used. A content analysis was conducted using a case study design to provide information about the contextualization. Results: The results show that both individual and contextual factors are likely to influence the stress process in different ways. Conclusions and implications: There is a need to investigate the particular factors and influences that determine how staff responds to challenging behaviour.