Psycho-educational Nursing Intervention for Improving Coping Strategies and Psychological Well-Being among Family Caregivers of Children with Down Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Training family caregivers of children with Down Syndrome on how to promote their own psychological well-being and to cope effectively is essential as they are frequently unstable and forego their psychological well-being. Aim: This study aimed to assess the effect of psycho-educational nursing intervention on coping strategies and psychological well-being among family caregivers of children with Down Syndrome. Design: A quasi-experimental design was utilized in this study. Setting: This study was carried out in the Genes Clinics of Down Syndrome in the specialized clinics of the university pediatric hospital affiliated to Ain Shams University Hospitals. Subjects: A sample of 60 family caregivers of children with Down Syndrome. The study tools were: 1) Interviewing Questionnaire, 2) Brief-COPE inventory (Carver, 1997), 3) Ryff’s Psychological well-being scale (1989) and 4) Psycho-educational program. The results: There were highly statistically significant differences between pre & post intervention regarding to emotion-focused coping strategies except for humor, acceptance, religion, venting and substance use and there were highly statistically significant differences between pre & post intervention regarding to problem-focused coping strategies except for use of instrumental support. Conclusions: There were highly statistically significant differences between pre & post intervention regarding the level of psychological well-being. There was a negative statistically significant correlation between psychological well-being pre & post intervention and all types of emotion-focused coping strategies except for humor, acceptance and religion. Meanwhile, there was a highly positive statistically significant correlation between psychological well-being pre & post intervention and problem-focused coping strategies regarding active coping and positive reframing and a positive statistically significant correlation regarding use of instrumental support and planning. Recommendations: Future research to assess challenges encountered by siblings of Down Syndrome children and to apply supportive intervention that promotes positive relationships and attitudes.