The structure and correlates of self-injurious behavior in an institutional setting.
SIB in institutions splits into automatic-stereotyped or socially-fed types, so tailor your assessment to the cluster you see.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Page (2000) looked at self-injury inside a large institution. The team wanted to see if SIB forms clear groups, not just random acts.
They ran a factor analysis on records of adults with intellectual disability. The math sorted behaviors into clusters that move together.
What they found
Two clear SIB shapes showed up. One group was stereotyped: repeated, rhythmical, like head-banging on the same spot.
The other group was social: SIB that drew staff eyes, stopped when people came close, or happened only when others were near.
How this fits with other research
Barnard-Brak et al. (2015) followed 1,871 people and found body-rocking or yelling predicted later SIB. Their data give the stereotyped cluster a future timeline.
Matson et al. (2008) showed that once either cluster is present, aggression and destruction ride along. The subtypes are not tidy islands; they bring extra trouble.
Tureck et al. (2013) added that adults with ASD plus severe ID show the highest rates. Their result fits the social cluster, where interaction fuels the behavior.
Why it matters
When you see rhythmic SIB, think automatic reinforcement and plan sensory matches. When you see SIB that stops after eye contact, think social reinforcement and teach replacement mands. Start your functional assessment by asking which cluster you are in; it saves trial-and-error time.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The prevalence of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in an institution for people with mental retardation was investigated. The relationship between SIB and age, sex, level of retardation, length of institutionalization, adaptive behavior, and probable causes of mental retardation was examined. A factor analysis on the topographies of SIB indicated the existence of two forms of SIB, stereotyped and social. The results are discussed in terms of probable causes of SIB.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2000 · doi:10.1016/s0891-4222(00)00055-x