title: The effectiveness of staff training focused on increasing emotional intelligence and improving interaction between support staff and clients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent research addressed the relationship between staff behaviour and challenging behaviour of individuals with an intellectual disability (ID). Consequently, research on interventions aimed at staff is warranted. The present study focused on the effectiveness of a staff training aimed at emotional intelligence and interactions between staff and clients. The effects of the training on emotional intelligence, coping style and emotions of support staff were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 214 support staff working within residential settings for individuals with ID and challenging behaviour. The experimental group consisted of 76 staff members, 138 staff members participated in two different control groups. A pre-test, post-test, follow-up control group design was used. Effectiveness was assessed using questionnaires addressing emotional intelligence, coping and emotions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Emotional intelligence of the experimental group changed significantly more than that of the two control groups. The experimental group showed an increase in task-oriented coping, whereas one control group did not. The results with regard to emotions were mixed. Follow-up data revealed that effects within the experimental group were still present four months after the training ended.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A staff training aimed at emotional intelligence and staff-client interactions is effective in improving emotional intelligence and coping styles of support staff. However, the need for more research aiming at the relationship between staff characteristics, organisational factors and their mediating role in the effectiveness of staff training is emphasised.
authors.affiliation: Tilburg University, Tranzo, Tilburg, The Netherlands.|Consortium Coping LVB, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L J M
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zijlmans
authors.affiliation: Tilburg University, Tranzo, Tilburg, The Netherlands.|Consortium Coping LVB, The Netherlands.|Tilburg University, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg, The Netherlands.|HAN University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.|Dichterbij Kennisn@, Gennep, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P J C M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Embregts
authors.affiliation: Consortium Coping LVB, The Netherlands.|GGzE Centre for Mental Health, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gerits
authors.affiliation: Consortium Coping LVB, The Netherlands.|Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A M T
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bosman
authors.affiliation: Consortium Coping LVB, The Netherlands.|Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J J L
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Derksen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D056348:Emotional Intelligence / Q000502:physiology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000451:nursing*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000066553:Problem Behavior; D012112:Residential Facilities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: challenging behaviour; coping; emotional intelligence; emotions; intellectual disabilities; staff training