Self-management support intervention for parents of children with developmental disorders: the role of gratitude and hope

Martin, Faith ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0141-1210, Clyne, Wendy, Pearce, Gemma and Turner, Andy 2019. Self-management support intervention for parents of children with developmental disorders: the role of gratitude and hope. Journal of Child and Family Studies 28 (4) , pp. 980-992. 10.1007/s10826-018-01308-1

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Abstract

Objectives Many parents of children with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit disorders, experience poor well-being and increased anxiety and depression. Very few interventions directly target parents’ needs. The peer-delivered HOPE Programme was designed to address this with six weekly group sessions focusing on self-management skills, including goal setting and expressing gratitude. Methods This pre-post study aimed to examine changes in anxiety, depression, well-being, hope and gratitude, and to explore associations between changes in anxiety and depression and changes in gratitude and hope. Validated measures of depression, anxiety, positive well-being, gratitude and hope were used. Parents of children with a range of developmental disabilities, most commonly autism spectrum disorders, were recruited. Results Of 137 (86.9% female) recruited, 108 parents completed the course and post-course data. Parents’ depression, anxiety, well-being, gratitude and hope all significantly improved between baseline and post-course. Hope and gratitude correlated significantly with depression, anxiety and well-being. Baseline depression, baseline gratitude, post-course hope and gratitude explained 50% of the variance in post-course depression. Reduced work hours, and baseline and post-course hope and gratitude explained 40% of the variance in post-course well-being. Anxiety was not associated to hope nor gratitude at either time point. Conclusions This study provides initial support for feasibility and potential effect of the peer delivered self-management intervention on parental anxiety and depression. Changes in gratitude and hope account for some change in depression, but not anxiety. A randomised controlled trial is needed to establish efficacy and explore mechanisms of change in-depth.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology
Publisher:	Springer
ISSN:	1062-1024
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	23 February 2023
Date of Acceptance:	13 February 2019
Last Modified:	03 May 2023 08:25
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/157226

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