Use of body mapping to explore key family relationships of adults with intellectual disability

Introduction: Understanding lived experience is a key objective of many qualitative studies. For some people, including those with intellectual disability, verbalisation of thoughts and experiences is difficult so an arts based data collection method may be helpful. Methods: Experiences of giving or receiving support for choice and control within family relationships were collected through interviews and dyadic body maps. Body mapping involves participants responding to questions through drawing pictures or words on life-sized body outlines. Analysis was undertaken using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach. Results: Body mapping supported the interpretation of the meaning of the participants’ experiences, contributing to emerging themes, particularly in relation to how they saw themselves and their relationship, emotional reactions and experience of stress. Benefits of mapping were increased participant engagement, additional information and a practical demonstration of the dyadic relationship. Limitations include the practical difficulty of the space and mobility requirements of using life-sized outlines, and reluctance to draw by some participants. Implications: The depth of data has an impact on research quality. An arts-based method provides an additional way for participants to express themselves. Researchers should consider a variety of data collection methods to meet participants’ needs.