A Study on the Challenging Behaviors of People with Developmental Disabilities Experienced by Social Workers in Residential Facilities in the Context of COVID-19

This study explored the essence of the experiences of social workers in residential facilities regarding the challenging behaviors of people with developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this, in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 social workers who had at least three years of experience in residential facilities for people with developmental disabilities. The collected data were analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological research method. From the analysis, 38 key meanings, 10 sub-categories, and 5 main categories were extracted. The five main categories were “standing alone in an endless desert,” “losing practical directions and not knowing what to do,” “struggling to break the rigid framework,” “finding a light in a dark tunnel,” and “finding a new path in practice.” Based on the findings, this study provides practical and policy suggestions for supporting social workers who experience the challenging behaviors of people with developmental disabilities in residential facilities.