Coping with stress: the experiences of service-users with intellectual disabilities in forensic services

It is now widely acknowledged that stress negatively impacts holistic and well-being and has been identified as a major global concern. The purpose of this paper is to report on a qualitative research study which sought to explore the experiences of stress and the use of coping strategies from the perspective of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) currently residing within the forensic in-patient services of one National Health Service Trust.

Data were gathered via focus group discussions involving 20 service-users with an ID. The data were subject to thematic analysis.

Data analysis produced three key themes: experiencing stress; sources of stress and coping with stress.

The findings of the research study have implications for practice. These include the need to utilise appropriate stress assessment measures and implement effective stress reduction and management programmes to address the holistic needs of people with ID, to ensure forensic services are truly high quality, person-centred and recovery focused.

Whilst stress experienced by people with ID residing in community settings has been explored, no studies have focused on how stress is experienced by people with ID residing in forensic services. This paper seeks to address this gap in the literature.