Post-Traumatic Growth in Professionals Caring for People with Intellectual Disabilities during COVID-19: A Psychological Intervention.

María Inmaculada Fernández-Ávalos,Francisco Cruz-Quintana,Oliver Hugh Turnbull,Rosario Ferrer-Cascales,María Nieves Pérez-Marfil,Manuel Fernández-Alcántara

doi:10.3390/healthcare10010048

María Inmaculada Fernández-Ávalos, Francisco Cruz-Quintana + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10010048

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Abstract

Background: Health professionals present a greater vulnerability to the effects of COVID-19 on their mental health, especially those who work with vulnerable groups such as those who suffer from intellectual disability (ID). The objective of the present research was to develop and verify the effectiveness of a psychological intervention for professionals in the field of ID to improve their mental health during this health crisis. Methods: A total of 32 professionals participated. The variables measured were: post-traumatic growth, mental health, burnout, coping strategies, resilience, life satisfaction, optimism, and cognitive and affective empathy. Results: The results revealed statistically significant differences in the post-traumatic growth variable. In the rest of the variables (mental health, burnout, coping strategies, resilience, vital satisfaction, optimism, and empathy), no significant differences between groups were found. Conclusions: An increase in the levels of post-traumatic growth was observed in the intervention group after a brief online psychological intervention. However, given the small sample size, these results should be taken with caution. Institutions should foster and promote interventions aimed at reducing the high emotional impact produced by COVID-19 in professionals that care for people diagnosed with ID.

Highlights

COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, where it spread rapidly to other territories and countries [1]
The objective of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of a psychological intervention aimed at professionals working in the field of intellectual disability (ID) to improve their mental health during the COVID-19 crisis
An increase in the levels of post-traumatic growth was observed in the intervention group after a brief online psychological intervention

Summary

Introduction

COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, where it spread rapidly to other territories and countries [1]. In relation to the general world population, effects such as an increase in psychological discomfort, levels of anxiety, depression, stress and post-traumatic symptoms, a decrease in positive emotions, and sleep problems such as insomnia have been found [4,5,6]. Health professionals present a greater vulnerability to the effects of COVID-19 on their mental health, especially those who work with vulnerable groups such as those who suffer from intellectual disability (ID). The variables measured were: post-traumatic growth, mental health, burnout, coping strategies, resilience, life satisfaction, optimism, and cognitive and affective empathy. In the rest of the variables (mental health, burnout, coping strategies, resilience, vital satisfaction, optimism, and empathy), no significant differences between groups were found. Institutions should foster and promote interventions aimed at reducing the high emotional impact produced by COVID-19 in professionals that care for people diagnosed with ID

Results

Discussion

Conclusion