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Research on Peer Abuse
Peer Abuse in Group Homes
Leading on from earlier work investigating the incidence of injuries experienced by adults living in a group home environment, a team of Donald Beasley Institute researchers have recently commenced work on an ethnographic study of social relationships in intellectual disability group homes. The study is titled "Peer abuse in group homes for adults with intellectual disabilities" and has been funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand for a period of thirty months. In-depth participant observations are being conducted within 10 different New Zealand group homes during year one of the study while qualitative interviews will be held with people with intellectual disabilities, support workers, team leaders and managers, Trust Board members, and families during year two of the study.
These interviews will focus on each individual's experiences of social relationships within group homes including pro-social and bullying behaviour and will seek to determine attitudes toward bullying and its prevention. It is also planned that incident report data will be gathered to further inform the study.
The final phase of the study will involve focus group interviews to reflect on the findings. It is hoped that this new approach will lead on to applied research which evaluates ways to reduce bullying in residential homes and help to ensure safer lives for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Research Team: Dr Anne Bray, Dr Brigit Mirfin-Veitch, Mr Paul Milner, Ms Sue Gates, Dr Nancy Higgins, Ms Kelly Tikao (Donald Beasley Institute), Professor Keith Sullivan (National University of Ireland, Galway).
