Improvement of group climate in a residential setting for juveniles with mild intellectual disability through training of staff in Non‐Violent Resistance

Background An open group climate is essential in successful residential care for juveniles with mild intellectual disability (MID). This study examined whether non‐violent resistance, adapted for MID (NVR‐MID), stimulates an open group climate in time. Method NVR‐MID was implemented in three residential settings in The Netherlands, in a quasi‐experimental stepped wedge design. In total, 124 clients with MID (Mage = 16.39 [SD = 4.95], 49.9% male) participated. Group climate was assessed seven times with the Group Climate Inventory for Children or the Group Climate Inventory‐Revisited (GCI‐R), during a total of 20 months. Results Open group climate scores increased in all three institutions; effect size was medium. Clients with lower IQs experienced group climate as more positive compared to clients with higher IQs. Effects were similar for both groups. Conclusions As NVR‐MID appeared to contribute to a positive experienced group climate, it might be advisable to implement NVR‐MID on larger scale.