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A virtual resiliency intervention promoting resiliency for parents of children with learning and attentional disabilities: a randomized pilot trial
This 2020 study highlights the current lack of evidence-based treatment for managing the distress often experienced by parents of children with learning and attentional disabilities (LAD). The plan was to try a multitude of methods to determine the features of an effective mind-body group resiliency program for parents taking care of children with LAD. The researchers conducted 4 parent focus group interviews, 2 professional focus group interviews, 5 professional individual interviews, and even set up a pilot group to further adapt the program. The second phase involved implementing a pilot trial that assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a videoconferencing delivery of the adapted program. The parents were randomized to either an immediate intervention group (IG) or wait-list control group. Surveys were administered at 3 time points to assess the effect of the intervention and provide comparisons with control. Initially the results demonstrated high levels of parental stress, with the main stressors found to be interactions with other parents, navigating the educational system, family-related worries, as well as financial and professional sacrifices. These stressors were used to make changes to this program. Around 62.5% of the 53 pilot trial participants completed at least 6 of the 8 weekly sessions, while 81.8% continued practicing the daily/weekly relaxation response exercises. Furthermore, the intervention group showed greater improvements in distress, resilience, stress coping, depression and anxiety, social support, and empathy, when compared with the control group. These enhanced effects were sustained at the 3-month follow-up. In conclusion, this adapted SMART-3RP intervention for parents of children with LAD demonstrated its feasibility, accessibility, and preliminary efficacy. This virtually delivered resiliency intervention had a positive and sustained impact on parents’ distress, resiliency, and stress coping.
[NPID: distress, stress, resilience, depression, anxiety, empathy, intervention, learning, difficulties, disabilities, disability, program, stressors, parents, caregivers]
Year: 2020
