The purpose of this qualitative phenomenology design was to describe the experiences of caregivers to adults with I/DD in the State of Texas. The theory guiding this study was the social constructivism framework which focused on how language and culture frame how individuals communicate, experience, and understand reality. In this study, the…

Many autistic people and people with non-spectrum neurodevelopmental disabilities (e.g. intellectual disability) report feeling lonely, which can negatively impact their well-being. There is little longitudinal research, however, tracking changes in how autistic people experience, conceptualize, and cope with loneliness throughout their lives. A…

Background: Young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities lack access to mental health supports. Peer-delivered services may fill this gap. We adapted a theory-driven and evidence-based peer mentoring intervention for virtual-delivery and investigated its acceptability and participants' preliminary response. Methods: Twelve…

Children with developmental disabilities require more medical experiences than typically-developing children and struggle to cooperate with healthcare encounters. Adaptive care plans, delivered by child life specialists, are individualized patient-centered plans created to address the challenges that children with developmental disabilities…

Background: We conducted feasibility testing of a novel peer mentoring intervention addressing self-awareness and proactive coping for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. Aligned with regulatory flexibility theory, we hypothesised that if young adults with intellectual and…

Introduction: There is evidence of a gap between individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who need treatment for self-injurious behavior (SIB) and those who receive treatment. The purpose of this study (n = 15) was to begin to understand the treatment gap from the perspective of family caregivers. Methods: In…

Background: Early Positive Approaches to Support (E-PAtS) is a co-produced and co-facilitated group programme that aims to provide early years support to family caregivers of children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Method: Thirty-five caregivers who had attended E-PAtS groups took part in individual interviews or focus groups.…

This 10-year study followed 134 caregivers of young adults with autism and intellectual disability, examining the effects of caregivers' coping strategies, sociodemographic features, and young adult symptomatology on caregiver well-being and depression. Lower caregiver education and higher young adult externalizing behaviors predicted lower…

Studies on the COVID-19 pandemic highlight detrimental effects of social distancing on mental health. These effects were also observed among caregivers of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), who undergo particular challenges in this context. This study aimed to identify the coping strategies adopted by caregivers of…

Aggression is a known contributor to burnout and caregiver instability among direct support professionals (DSPs) caring for adults with developmental disabilities. However, few studies have explored the differential effects of aggression subtypes on caregivers and what implications these may have for intervention planning. This longitudinal study…

The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate factors associated with resilience in familial caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database, with the registration number CRD42018105180. Several electronic databases were searched for studies. A random-effects meta-analysis was…

Introduction: Constructive coping strategies play an important role during childcare processes. We examined the determinants of coping strategies used by parents raising children with intellectual disabilities or other developmental disorders and by parents with typically developing children. Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out in…

Background: Limited data exist on problematic sexual behaviour (PSB) in youth with developmental disabilities in South Korea. Method: Sixty-one parents of children with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder (aged 13-30) reported children's PSB and emotional, behavioural, cognitive, and interpersonal factors. The frequency of PSB in…

Background: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) from low income diverse communities are experiencing the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic most acutely. Method: To better understand the impacts of the pandemic on the wellbeing of adults with IDD from an urban US region and how they are managing the associated…

Mothers of children with developmental disabilities suffer from tremendous stress and anxiety. These mothers may use religion and spirituality as coping mechanisms to help them adjust to changes emerging in their lives as well as to resolve problems. This study evaluated the spiritual needs of mothers of children with developmental disabilities…