BUILDING AN ECOLOGY OF SUPPORT - A CASE-STUDY OF ONE YOUNG WOMAN WITHSEVERE PROBLEM BEHAVIORS LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY

This case study describes 30 months in the life of a young woman with a history of life-threatening self-injurious behaviors (SIB) who moved from a large public institution to her community. Quantitative and qu alitative research methods were employed to provide a nonexperimental description of her behavior and lifestyle in the community. Quantitati ve measurements included: (a) activity patterns, (b) social network, ( c) self-injurious behaviors, (d) aggression against others, and (e) st aff changes. Qualitative results emerged from semistructured interview s and participant observations conducted over a 6-month period. Togeth er, these data revealed a young woman actively involved in a lifestyle characterized by an increase in the frequency and diversity of activi ties performed in the community. Problem behaviors occurred at low lev els for extended periods, yet there continued to be times with major r egression. Qualitative results also indicate a general reduction in th e intensity of self-injurious behaviors. Results are discussed in term s of the importance of multicomponent positive interventions, the need to design environments that promote lifestyle changes, and the value of collaboratively employing quantitative and qualitative research met hods.