Profiles and correlates of aggressive behaviour among adults with intellectual disabilities.
Low work roles plus high impulsivity spot adults with ID who are most likely to show serious aggression.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team looked at 296 adults with mild or moderate intellectual disability.
They used cluster math to sort each person by how much and what kind of aggression they showed.
The goal was to spot clear risk profiles so staff know who needs help first.
What they found
Six groups came out. One small group, the “violent” cluster, had the worst life outcomes.
These adults had little work, high impulsivity, and more hurtful acts.
The other five clusters showed milder or less frequent aggression.
How this fits with other research
Levin et al. (2014) used the same 296 adults but added personality data. They found seven personality types that line up with the six aggression groups. Together the two papers give a fuller picture: first flag risk, then match personality to tailor support.
Willner (2015) and Cudré-Mauroux (2010) both say drugs rarely cut aggression in ID. Their reviews fit today’s finding that social markers, not diagnosis or pills, point to the highest-risk group.
Taylor (2002) already urged behavioral or CBT routes over meds. The new profiles show exactly whom to put into those non-drug programs first.
Why it matters
You now have a quick screen: low vocational engagement plus high impulsivity signals the top-risk cluster. When you see that pair, start a full functional assessment and push for behavior support, not just another prescription. Share the profile list with managers to justify funding for day activity slots and staff training.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the heterogeneity in aggressive behaviours observed among individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), little attention has been paid to the identification of typologies of aggression among individuals with mild or moderate ID and their associated factors. OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present study was to identify profiles of aggressive behaviour and their psychosocial correlates. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study of 296 adults with mild or moderate ID, information was gathered through interviews with the ID participants, their case manager and a significant other. Client files were also reviewed. RESULTS: Multiple correspondence analysis followed by hierarchical cluster analysis generated six distinct profiles of aggressive behaviour in this sample. The 'violent' group clearly stood out as lacking social and vocational involvement, having more severe mental health problems, high levels of impulsivity and antisocial tendencies compared with all other groups. DISCUSSION: The identification of distinct profiles of aggressive behaviour offers new possibilities for studying risk factors and eventually targeting specific risk prevention strategies.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2007 · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2007.00953.x