Challenging behavior among institutionalized adults with intellectual disability in Israel: A comparison of measurements and definitions.

Objectives: Challenging behavior (CB) is used as a diagnostic label among service providers. For persons with intellectual disability (ID) this label holds important implications such as placement in segregated housing and extreme stigmatization. Therefore, the ways through which service providers define and measure CB holds great importance. This study compared the nature and extent of differences between the way CB is measured in institutionalized adults with ID among service providers with a valid CB tool (Challenging Behavior Scale, CBS). Methods: A survey was conducted among 53 institutionalized adults with ID in Israel. Data were collected via a close ended questionnaire from key staff members. Results: We found that staff's definitions of CB did not align with CBS scores. Conclusions: Given the far reaching implications of the CB label among persons with ID, it is highly important that service providers relay on valid measurements. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)