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Predictors of worker mental health in intellectual disability services during COVID-19
- Authors:
- LUNSKY Yona, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34(6), 2021, pp.1655-1660.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Workers supporting adults with intellectual disabilities experience significant stress in their essential role during COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of these workers and determine predictors of emotional distress. Methods: Eight hundred and thirty-eight workers supporting adults with intellectual disabilities completed an online survey about their work during COVID-19 and their mental health in July 2020. Results: One in four workers reported moderate to severe emotional distress. Being older and more experienced, having counselling services available through one's agency, and engaging in regular exercise or hobbies outside work were associated with less distress. Workers who reported increased stress in the workplace, stigma towards their families because of their job, personal fears about spreading COVID-19, and receipt of medications for mental health conditions or therapy reported greater distress. Conclusions: More attention is needed to address the mental health of workers supporting adults with intellectual disabilities as they continue their essential work during the pandemic. (Edited publisher abstract)
An audit of the well-being of staff working in intellectual disability settings in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Authors:
- McMAHON Martin, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 25(4), 2020, pp.237-246.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected millions of people worldwide. Individuals with intellectual disability are at a disproportionate risk of mortality, given the health inequalities they experience. This puts a significant burden of responsibility on staff who support these individuals. Consequently, this study aims to establish a baseline of the well-being of staff working in intellectual disability services in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey was carried out using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, a brief measure of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and a brief measure of anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder-7). Findings: In total, 285 staff in the Republic of Ireland completed the survey. These staff reported moderate levels of personal and work-related burnout and mild levels of anxiety and depression. Higher mean scores were recorded across scales from staff who worked in independent living settings and from staff who supported individuals with challenging behaviour. Originality/value: This study, an audit, provides initial data on the well-being of staff working with individuals with intellectual disability in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights that employers need to consider staff well-being, given the levels of personal and work-related burnout, and anxiety and depression that were found. This is particularly true for staff who work in independent living settings and with adults with challenging behaviour. Future research should focus on proactive strategies for improving staff well-being in the short term, given the current resurgence of COVID-19 in Ireland. (Edited publisher abstract)
Coping with stress: the experiences of service-users with intellectual disabilities in forensic services
- Authors:
- BURNS John, LAMPRAKI Alexandra
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 7(2), 2016, pp.75-83.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: It is now widely acknowledged that stress negatively impacts holistic and well-being and has been identified as a major global concern. The purpose of this paper is to report on a qualitative research study which sought to explore the experiences of stress and the use of coping strategies from the perspective of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) currently residing within the forensic in-patient services of one National Health Service Trust. Design/methodology/approach: Data were gathered via focus group discussions involving 20 service-users with an ID. The data were subject to thematic analysis. Findings: Data analysis produced three key themes: experiencing stress; sources of stress and coping with stress. Practical implications: The findings of the research study have implications for practice. These include the need to utilise appropriate stress assessment measures and implement effective stress reduction and management programmes to address the holistic needs of people with ID, to ensure forensic services are truly high quality, person-centred and recovery focused. Originality/value: Whilst stress experienced by people with ID residing in community settings has been explored, no studies have focused on how stress is experienced by people with ID residing in forensic services. This paper seeks to address this gap in the literature. (Publisher abstract)
Writing about stress: the impact of a stress-management programme on staff accounts of dealing with stress
- Authors:
- OORSOUW Wietske M. W. J. van, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(3), 2014, pp.236-246.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Helping staff serving clients with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour to cope with stress has implications for their own well-being and for the lives of those they support. Method: This study examined staff members' views of stress and the effectiveness of a stress-management intervention. Effectiveness was assessed using written assignments regarding stress management, and changes in views presented were tested in a pre- and post-test control group design. Results: In the first phase, a content analysis was conducted across groups, which revealed that participants expressed a broad variety of views about stress and coping mechanisms, with considerable individual differences. In the second phase, a more fine-grained quantitative analysis was conducted to assess training effectiveness. Results showed an increase in the proportion of coping strategies referred to by the experimental group post-training. This positive change remained at follow-up. Conclusions: The results of the content analysis and the outcome data have implications for staff training.
The relationship between challenging behaviour, burnout and cognitive variables in staff working with people who have intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- MILLS S., ROSE J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 55(9), September 2011, pp.844-857.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Previous research leads to the hypothesis that negative emotions and the way in which staff perceive challenging behaviour may mediate the relationship between burnout in those working with people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and clients’ challenging behaviour. The aim of this study was to confirm the nature of this relationship. Seventy-eight staff working in variety of service settings in England completed measures of burnout, challenging behaviour and perceptions about challenging behaviour. The perceptions explored included beliefs about the timeline of behaviour, staff's perception of whether they have control over the behaviour, beliefs about clients' ability to control the behaviour and staff's negative emotional responses. Significant positive correlations were found between challenging behaviour and burnout, challenging behaviour and cognitive variables, and cognitive variables and burnout. Regression analyses demonstrated that negative emotions did indeed mediate the relationship between challenging behaviour and burnout. The results also show that higher levels of challenging behaviour were correlated with higher levels of fear of assault.
Supporting carers to care in a crisis: an analysis of additional service provision essential to carers of people with learning disabilities
- Author:
- DAVIES Rebecca
- Journal article citation:
- Llais, 98, Winter 2010, pp.14-17.
- Publisher:
- Learning Disability Wales
Research into how unpaid carers for people with learning disabilities cope with 'crisis' in their lives and the lives of those they care for was commissioned by Gwalia Housing in Wales. Twenty four carers who had experienced a crisis situation were interviewed. Although carers feedback found great variation in carers experience and definitions of crisis, the most frequent theme was that a crisis was something that stopped carers carrying out their duties. Carers were also asked about their experience of services and how they could help in crisis. The article concludes with a number of recommendations for practice.
Support staff working in intellectual disability services: the importance of relationships and positive experiences
- Author:
- HASTINGS Richard P.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 35(3), September 2010, pp.207-210.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The author discusses the lack of research on the role of paid support staff working in intellectual disability services, focusing in particular on the lack of attention to theory and to building a theoretical/conceptual understanding of the role they fulfil. A brief overview is given of research in this field to date. The author suggests that there are two priorities for future research on support staff. These are to understand the relationships formed between support staff and individuals with intellectual disability and understanding the positive contributions that staff perceive that they benefit from directly as a result of their work. He indicates that there are some synergies between research agendas relating to support staff and family carers. It is suggested that finding out why support staff stay in their roles when aspects of their work are stressful, poorly paid, and often poorly supported, might lead down very different roots for practice than the more negatively focused questions such as why staff become stressed at work and why they leave their roles.
Staff stress and people who have mental health needs living in new models of service
- Author:
- ROSE John L.
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, 3(2), June 2009, pp.20-25.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This paper introduces some of the research that has been conducted into staff stress in learning disability services. It also examines how some individual characteristics of service users, particularly challenging behaviour and mental health problems, may influence the levels of staff stress reported. Service changes as a result of the development of supported living are also considered briefly. Some suggestions are made as to how these changes might influence staff. The importance of new research investigating these developments from a staff perspective is highlighted.
Life events as a risk factor for psychological problems in individuals with intellectual disabilities: a critical review
- Authors:
- HULBERT-WILLIAMS L., HASTINGS R.P.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 52(11), November 2008, pp.883-895.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Stressful life events such as bereavement, moving house and changing jobs have repeatedly been implicated as risk factors for mental and physical ill health. Since the 1940s, researchers have demonstrated the negative effects of stressful life events, refined methods of recording such events and investigated the relative impact of different types of event. These investigations have generally not extended to include people with intellectual disabilities. A narrative review of research on life events as they occur to people with intellectual disabilities was conducted and the evidence that life events function as a risk factor for psychological problems critically assessed. Evidence was reviewed for an association between life events and a range of outcome variables, including affective disorders, challenging behaviour, psychosis and psychological problems more generally. The methodology behind the current evidence base was critiqued and a number of methodological advances that would help to strengthen it discussed. There is reasonable evidence that life events are associated with psychological problems, and that there is some tentative evidence that life events play a causal role, although to date, no relationship with psychosis in people with intellectual disabilities has been demonstrated. Life events are likely to be pertinent in clinical work with people with intellectual disabilities.
Distress in children with learning disabilities at a respite unit: perspectives on their experiences
- Authors:
- RADCLIFFE Jonathan J. L., TURK Vicky
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 36(2), June 2008, pp.91-101.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Numerous studies have investigated the benefits of respite to families with a disabled child. Far fewer have examined the effects on the child and none have systematically compared information about this from different sources. Reports of behavioural reactions and views on distress of children attending respite care in London were gathered from parents, teachers and respite staff. Children were also asked for their views. Over half the children (54%) were reported to show medium or strong negative reactions lasting for 1 or more days by a parent or teacher. Reported reactions varied widely between home and school and no concordance was found between parents, teachers and respite staff groups regarding distress. Some children’s views differed from those of their parent or teacher. The findings highlight the extent of differences in perspectives and suggest the need for greater awareness of the possible distress to children attending respite. This is discussed in relation to factors such as the potential conflict of interests between parents and children, communication and behavioural difficulties, and the context in which the child is observed.