Support For Parents Of Children Research Articles

Psychological and Pedagogical Support for Parents of Children with Special Educational Needs

Psychological and Pedagogical Support for Parents of Children with Special Educational Needs

Parental physical activity support for parents of children with disabilities in Saudi Arabia

Physical activity (PA) is crucial for promoting physical, cognitive, and psychosocial health. Unfortunately, children with disabilities spend less time engaging in PA compared to their typically developing peers. Parents play a crucial role in supporting children with disabilities to increase their level of PA. However, there is scant research on the factors linked to parental support for PA among non-Western parents of children with disabilities, particularly in the context of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, to address this gap in the literature, the current study aimed to (i) measure parental support for encouraging PA in children with disabilities in Saudi Arabia, and (ii) examine the demographic factors associated with such support (e.g., family income, age of the child, type of disability, and parents' educational background). The sample included Saudi Arabian parents of children with disabilities (N = 239; fathers: n = 123; mothers: n = 116) who completed the Arabic version of the Parental Physical Activity Support Questionnaire for Parents of Children with Disabilities (PPSQ for PCD). The findings revealed that parental support for children with disabilities to engage in PA typically occurs less than once a week, indicating an inadequate level of support. A generalized linear model analysis demonstrated that several independent demographic variables are associated with overall parental support for PA among children with disabilities: participant age, educational background, parental engagement in PA, age of the child with a disability, disability status, club participation, knowledge of legislation or policies related to the rights of children with disabilities, and number of children in the family. The findings emphasize the significance of raising awareness among parents of children with disabilities to support their children in participating in PA, as well as addressing the barriers that hinder such support.

The Relationship Between Solution-Focused Communication Skills and Perceived Social Support: A Descriptive Levels of Study of the Perceptions of Turkish Parents with of Children with Developmental Disabilities

ABSTRACT Purpose This descriptive, correlational study examined the relationship between solution-focused communication skills and perceived level of social support for parents of children with developmental disabilities. Method One hundred and sixty one parents of children with developmental disabilities completed a researcher developed personal information form, the Solution Focality in Communication Scale, and the Revised Parental Social Support Scale. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, in independent groups, t tests, and correlation tests. Results Findings included a positive correlation between the Solution Focality in Communication Scale and the perceived level of social support of the Revised Parental Social Support Scale and the perceived social support satisfaction level sub-dimensions (p < .001). Conclusion This descriptive study found a correlation between the level of solution-focused communication skills reported by parents of children with developmental disabilities, and the parent’s improved perceptions of social support. In addition, parents reported increased satisfaction with the social support they had received as their solution-focused communication skills improved.

Engaging parents to reduce youth violence: evidence from a youth justice board pathfinder programme

AbstractThe Youth Justice Board’s 2019–2022 strategic plan set youth violence as a priority. As part of this, a ‘pathfinder’ approach was launched to assist local authorities and their partners to devise, develop, and disseminate whole systems approaches to serious youth violence (Youth Justice Board in Pathfinder—YJB, https://yjresourcehub.uk/working-with-partners/item/651-pathfinder-yjb.html Youth Justice Board Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21, 2020). In partnership with a regional Violence Reduction Unit, seven local Youth Offending Teams worked together with a programme that facilitated peer support networks for parents of children known to the youth justice system. The programme presented a challenge to a view in statutory youth justice of parents as part of the problem (Burney and Gelsthorpe in Howard J Crimin Justice 47(5):470–485, 2008). The aim of the programme was to engage parents of young people involved in the youth justice system, facilitating peer to peer support through a blend of online and face-to-face meetings. Taking a mixed-method approach, the research sought to investigate the impact of the programme on participants’ well-being and perceived competence with parenting. A secondary aim was to explore experiences of the self-care and peer support activities offered by the programme. The quantitative findings showed statistically significant increases in parents’ self-reported well-being and perceived competence with parenting during engagement with the programme. Effect sizes reached the minimum important difference for all of the quantitative measures, with a large effect for well-being. The qualitative findings highlighted that the self-care focus was important in engaging parents and helps distinguish the programme from statutory services. The findings are combined in the paper to produce a potential model of peer support for parents of children known to the youth justice system. Future research should investigate the impact on the children of parents who took part in this programme with a specific focus on youth violence.

Remote Recruitment Strategy and Structured E-Parenting Support (STEPS) App: Feasibility and Usability Study.

The Structured E-Parenting Support (STEPS) app provides support for parents of children with elevated hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattention, and conduct problems who are awaiting clinical assessment. STEPS will be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) within the Online Parent Training for the Initial Management of ADHD Referrals (OPTIMA) research program in the United Kingdom. Phase 1 of the OPTIMA tested the feasibility of participants' recruitment and the app's usability. This study aimed to adapt a digital routine clinical monitoring system, myHealthE, for research purposes to facilitate waitlist recruitment; test using remote methods to screen and identify participants quickly and systematically; pilot the acceptability of the recruitment and assessment protocol; and explore the usability of STEPS. myHealthE was adapted to screen patients' data. Parents' and clinicians' feedback on myHealthE was collected, and information governance reviews were conducted in clinical services planning to host the RCT. Potential participants for the observational feasibility study were identified from new referrals using myHealthE and non-myHealthE methods. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographic and outcome variables. We estimated whether the recruitment rate would meet the planned RCT sample size requirement (n=352). In addition to the feasibility study participants, another group of parents was recruited to assess the STEPS usability. They completed the adapted System Usability Scale and responded to open-ended questions about the app, which were coded using the Enlight quality construct template. Overall, 124 potential participants were identified as eligible: 121 (97.6%) via myHealthE and 3 (2.4%) via non-myHealthE methods. In total, 107 parents were contacted, and 48 (44.9%) consented and were asked if, hypothetically, they would be willing to participate in the OPTIMA RCT. Of the 28 feasibility study participants who provided demographic data, 21 (75%) identified as White. Their children had an average age of 8.4 (SD 1.7) years and 65% (31/48) were male. During the primary recruitment period (June to July 2021) when 45 participants had consented, 38 (84%) participants agreed hypothetically to take part in the RCT (rate of 19/mo, 95% CI 13.5-26.1), meeting the stop-go criterion of 18 participants per month to proceed with the RCT. All parents were satisfied or very satisfied with the study procedures. Parents (n=12) recruited to assess STEPS' usability described it as easy to navigate and use and as having an attractive combination of colors and visual design. They described the content as useful, pitched at the right level, and sensitively presented. Suggested improvements included adding captions to videos or making the recorded reflections editable. Remote recruitment and study procedures for testing a parenting intervention app are feasible and acceptable for parents. The parents felt that STEPS was a useful and easy-to-use digital parenting support tool. RR2-10.1186/s40814-021-00959-0.

Parental Resilience in Families of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Parenting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be challenging, demanding, and overwhelming to parents and families. Understanding parental resilience can help develop appropriate support for parents of children with ASD and their families. This article discusses parental resilience by exploring what is known about parental resilience in families of children with ASD and examining factors that may contribute to parental resilience for practitioners to work on with these parents. This article focuses on three strong predictors of parental resilience in families of children with ASD: (a) locus of control of parents, (b) cognitive appraisal of parents, and (c) informal support for families. Implications for practitioners to help parents build resilience from the above three aspects are discussed.

Relationship Among Resilience, Perceived Stress, Sleep, &amp; Sensory Processing for Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract Date Presented 04/22/2023 Stress, sleep, and sensory processing heavily influence a person’s occupational performance and occupational roles. OTs should understand the influence of resilience on these factors in order to offer appropriate caregiver support for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). OT support will benefit parents, their children, families, and communities because they can cope better with everyday stressors. Primary Author and Speaker: Megan C. Chang Additional Authors and Speakers: Elana Candiotti-Pacheco, Kate Hatch, Chiana Hosseini, Carley Kruger, Mercedes Mansfield

Impact of Recreational and Leisure Activities on the Quality of Life of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

This study examines the effect of participation in leisure and recreational activities on quality of life among parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Jaipur, India. The study focuses on the challenges faced by parents of children with ASD and their impact on the parents' QOL. Additionally, this paper highlights the need to consider the mental health of parents in the interventions proposed for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.&#x0D; The article explores the effect of leisure and recreational activities on the quality of life among parents of children with ASD, a relevant topic in the rehabilitation field. Parents of children with ASD often experience high levels of stress and anxiety, which can negatively impact their quality of life. Participating in leisure and recreational activities has been suggested as a potential way to reduce stress and improve well-being. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of such interventions.&#x0D; The results of the study indicate that participation in leisure and recreational activities can significantly improve the quality of life of parents of children with ASD. The study provides support for the use of leisure and recreational activities as a rehabilitation intervention for parents of children with ASD. The findings suggest that healthcare professionals working with families affected by ASD should consider incorporating leisure and recreational activities into their interventions to improve the well-being of parents. Overall, the study highlights the importance of addressing the needs of parents of children with ASD and provides evidence-based support for the use of leisure and recreational activities in rehabilitation programs.&#x0D; The article is relevant to the rehabilitation field as it highlights the importance of considering the mental health of parents in interventions proposed for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. It also emphasizes the need to incorporate leisure and recreational activities as part of the treatment plan to enhance the QOL of parents of children with ASD. The valence points to take note of in the discussion include the impact of leisure and recreational activities on the QOL of parents and the need to provide support for parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Understanding the support needs of parents of children with obsessive-compulsive disorder: a qualitative descriptive study in the UK

IntroductionCaring for a child with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be extremely difficult, yet evidence-based support strategies for parents/carers are limited. A detailed understanding of parent support needs is an important first step in intervention development and qualitative research with this focus is currently lacking. In this study, the viewpoints of parents and professionals were used to understand support needs and preferences when caring for a child with OCD. This qualitative descriptive study formed part of a wider UK-based project aimed at developing better support for parents of children with OCD.MethodIndividual semi-structured interviews (and an optional one-week journal) with a purposive sample of parents of children and young people (CYP) with OCD, aged 8–18, and focus groups (or individual interviews where preferred) with a purposive sample of professionals supporting CYP with OCD. Data comprised transcripts of audio-recorded interviews and focus groups, and text from journals. Analysis was informed by the Framework approach involving inductive and deductive coding, supported by NVivo 12.0 software. Co-production methods were adopted throughout the research process, including the involvement of a parent co-researcher and charity collaborators.ResultsInterviews were undertaken with 20 parents, of which 16 completed a journal. Twenty-five professionals took part in a focus group or interview. Five key themes relating to parent support challenges and support needs/preferences were identified (1) Coping with the impact of OCD; (2) Getting help for my child; (3) Understanding parents’ role; (4) Making sense of OCD; (5) Joined-up care.ConclusionParents caring for children with OCD have clear caregiver support needs which are currently not being met. Through triangulation of parent and professional accounts, this study has identified parent support challenges (e.g., emotional impact of OCD, visibility of caring role, misunderstanding about OCD) and support needs/ preferences (e.g., headspace/respite, compassion/sensitivity, guidance on accommodation) to lay the vital foundations for the development of effective parent support interventions. There is now an urgent need to develop and test an intervention to support parents in their caregiving role, with the aim of preventing and/or reducing their levels of burden and distress and ultimately, improving their quality of life.

Parents of Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding Quality of Life, Stress, and Perceived Social Support.

Objective This study aims to investigate the quality of life (QOL), parental stress, and perception of social support in parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) in Saudi Arabia. Background Studies have shown that parenting a child with NDD impacts the QOL, parental stress, and life satisfaction of parents. Those studies, however, assessed those factors separately as well as focusing on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study will use a mixed methods approach to gain a deeper understanding of those three factors as they related to parenting a child with NDD. Method Data about parental stress, QOL, and other related sociodemographic variables were collected from parents of children with NDD (N= 63). Next, semi-structured interviews were conducted with four of those parents to gain a deeper understanding of the parents' QOL, parental stress, and perception of social support. Results An analysis of variance (ANOVA) test demonstrated that parents who had children with severe symptoms had poorer QOL and higher levels of parental stress compared to parents who had children who had moderate and mild symptoms. In addition, parents who had children with ASD had poorer QOL compared to all of the other disorders. There was no statistically significant difference in QOL and parental stress between mothers and fathers. The thematic analysis highlighted that the most significant challenges they face are financial, familial, and well-being worries. Conclusion In conclusion, this study shows that parents of children with NDD exhibited higher levels of parental stress and lower levels of QOL depending on the diagnosis and intensity of the child's symptoms. In addition, the interviews highlighted some key challenges that the parents felt affected their QOL and stress levels, as well as their views on family, friends, and community social support. Implications This study can help in developing or improving supportive programs and interventions for parents with children with NDD to enhance their QOL, reduce parental stress, and create a better social support system.

Supporting Parents of Children with ADHD During COVID-19 School Closures: A Multiple-Baseline Trial of Behavioral Parent Training for Home Learning.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12310-023-09569-y.

Supporting Parents of Children With Type 1 Diabetes: Experiment Comparing Message and Delivery Types

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic condition that typically affects young age group people and is estimated to afflict approximately 154,000 people younger than 20 years in the United States. Since T1D typically impacts children, parents must play an active role in helping their child manage the condition. This creates a substantial burden and responsibility for the parents. This pilot study sought to find ways to help parents with children with T1D in coping with stresses related to managing and monitoring their child's disease by providing informational support, either about parenting a child with T1D or general parenting messages through different channels. Parents (N=120) of children with T1D were recruited through an email listserv through local T1D Facebook groups. A total of 102 participants were included in the analysis. We conducted a 2×2 experimental study over an 8-week period to test 2 types of messages (diabetes specific vs general parenting) and the medium in which the messages were delivered (Facebook vs SMS text message). Diabetes behavior, informational support, emotional support, and quality of life were the main outcomes of interest. The results suggested that the participants in the diabetes message groups showed improvement in diabetes behaviors (F1,99=3.69; P=.05) and were more satisfied with the intervention (F3,98=4.59; P=.005). There were no differences between message and medium groups on informational support, emotional support, or quality of life. The results of this study demonstrate that the medium-Facebook or SMS text messaging-does not matter for parents' perceptions of social support or quality of life. The diabetes message group reported higher levels of disease management. Finally, the groups with the diabetes support messages were more satisfied than those who received general parenting messages. The findings provide starting guidance for the development of social support interventions for this population.

ALIMONY AGREEMENTS UNDER THE LEGISLATION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

The article discusses the certification of agreements complicated by a foreign element, and the problems associated with determining the applicable law, the choice of the method and procedure for alimony payments in the enforcement of agreements abroad. The author highlights the mediation procedure as a priority way to resolve disagreements on the issues of material support for parents of children, indicates the prospects for the development of relations between notaries of different states.

Психологическая поддержка родителей, воспитывающих детей с особенностями развития, средствами арт-терапии

The issue of psychological support for parents of children with disabilities is quite acute, but the development of this area is slow both in Russia and abroad. Many specialists often ignore the severe psychoemotional state of parents of disabled children. The need of this topic to attract more attention is the social aspect of the study. The research is practice-oriented. The purpose of the work is to describe the experience of participation of one of the parents raising a child with special needs in the work of an art therapy studio (short-term art therapy format). The psychological work is based on the methods of art-therapeutic assistance in overcoming the consequences of traumatic stress by A.I. Kopytin, work with metaphorical associative maps and a set of materials for working with the internal state of “TeloProjector” (author A.M. Simonenko). All stages of the short-term format of the art therapy studio have been completed. During and after psychological and educational work parents noted positive changes in their mental state. The regular psychological support for this category of citizens, in particular by means of art therapy, is necessary.

Online Parent Training for The Initial Management of ADHD referrals (OPTIMA): the protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a digital parenting intervention implemented to support parents and children on a treatment waitlist

BackgroundChildren referred for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often present with a broader pattern of conduct problems including oppositionality and defiance. This combination can be extremely stressful to parents, lower parents’ self-esteem and negatively impact family life. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that families receive support as soon as possible after their referral. However, as clinical services are overstretched, and traditional in-person parenting intervention programmes are expensive, families often must wait times a long time prior to receiving this vital input. To address this, we have created a digital parenting programme called STEPS. It is delivered as a mobile phone app providing a set of tools and resources that can be easily accessed at parents’ convenience. This study aims to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of STEPS in supporting parents of children with high levels of hyperactivity/impulsivity, inattention and conduct problems, who are waiting to be assessed by specialist children’s clinical services.MethodsOnline Parent Training for The Initial Management of ADHD referrals (OPTIMA) is a two-arm superiority parallel randomised controlled trial with an internal pilot study. We aim to recruit 352 parents and their children, who have been accepted onto a waitlist in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services or similar child health services. Parents who consent will be randomised 1:1 to either the STEPS or wait-as-usual (WAU) group. The trial will be conducted remotely (online and telephone) with measures taken at baseline and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post-randomisation. The primary objective is to evaluate whether STEPS reduces the severity of children’s oppositional and defiant behaviour, as rated by parents, measured at 3 months post-randomisation compared to WAU.DiscussionDigital solutions, such as mobile phone apps, have potential for delivering psychological support for parents of children with clinical-level needs in a timely and inexpensive manner. This trial will provide data on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the STEPS app, which could support the implementation of this scalable parenting intervention programme into standard clinical care and, ultimately, improve the outcomes for families of children referred to specialist child and adolescent health services.Trial registrationISRCTN 16523503. Prospectively registered on 18 November 2021. https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN16523503

Social support in parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders

The aim of the present study was to compare the social support in parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The sample consisted of 166 parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in Isfahan, Iran. Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS, Sherbourne and Stewart 1991) was used for measuring the availability of social support. The collected data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance and multivariate analysis of variance. The results showed that there was no significant difference in social support scores between parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders based on the type of child disorder and the gender of the parents (p > 0.05). The results also showed that there was no significant difference in the subscale of emotional/informational support, tangible support, and affectionate support between parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (p > 0.05) but in the one subscale (i.e. social interaction) parents of children with intellectual disability was significantly higher than parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Moreover, The results showed that there was no significant difference in subscales of social support between parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders based on the gender of the parents (p > 0.05). Therefore, according to the research findings, the design and implementation of support and educational programs for parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, especially in parents of children with ASD and ADHD, and to increase social interactions are essential and should be a priority in the programs of organizations providing psychological services.

НАУКОВО-ПРАКТИЧНІ ПІДХОДИ ДО ФОРМУВАННЯ ГОТОВНОСТІ МАЙБУТНІХ ФАХІВЦІВ СОЦІОНОМІЧНОЇ СФЕРИ ДО СОЦІАЛЬНОЇ ПІДТРИМКИ БАТЬКІВ ДІТЕЙ З ОСОБЛИВИМИ ПОТРЕБАМИ

The article is devoted to the analysis of the system of preparation and formation of the readiness of future specialists in the socionomic sphere for professional activity. The aim of the article is to define and analyse scientific and practical approaches (systemic, technological, pedagogical interaction, cooperation and co-creation, personality-activity, content-procedural, task-oriented, dialogic, competence-based, individual-differential, and simulation-gaming ones) to the formation of a special type of readiness of future specialists in the socionomic sphere namely for providing the social support for parents of children with special needs. The research tasks are the highlighting and analysis of scientific and practical approaches to the formation of the readiness of future specialists for professional activities, covered in the primary sources and in the advanced practice of higher educational institutions, as well as their specification in accordance with the features of the activities of specialists in the area of social support for parents of children with special needs. The research used theoretical methods, in particular, analysis, synthesis, generalization, interpolation and modelling, which made it possible to single out and describe the system of working in higher educational institutions for the readiness formation of future specialists in the socionomic sphere for providing the social support for parents of children with special needs. It has been emphasized that today in higher education there is an approach that orients future specialists to the transfer of this function to other social institutions. This situation does not contribute to the formation of the appropriate level of motivation and ability to energetically engage in their own professional activities, and the capacity to adequately self-assess professional actions in future specialists in the socionomic sphere. Therefore, the educational process in Ukrainian higher education should ensure the creation of a cult of knowledge and scholarship among students, which will contribute to the development of their vision of social strategies, setting perspectives for personal growth and professional development. The formation of the basic constructs of future specialists such as competence, competencies and professional qualities of their personality is impossible without the individualization of the educational process in higher education. The article states that the integration of the above-presented scientific and practical approaches to the formation of a certain level of readiness in future specialists in the higher education system of Ukraine is realized in practical activities via the selection of the appropriate content of tasks, methods, techniques, forms and teaching tools. Their application in the educational process will be significant potential for increasing the effectiveness of learning in Ukrainian higher educational institutions, especially, in shaping the readiness of future specialists in the socionomic sphere for the social support for parents of children with special needs, their logical thinking and intuition. It has been emphasized that the main task of modern education and vocational preparation in the higher education system is the development of the creative potential of future specialists capable of transforming society and creating new forms of social life, and non-standard performance of their own professional functions. It has been concluded that the mentioned approaches such as systemic, technological, pedagogical interaction, cooperation and co-creation, personality-activity, content-procedural, task-oriented, dialogic, competence-based, individual-differential, and simulation-gaming ones make it possible to form a high level of readiness of future specialists in the socionomic sphere, provided that they are introduced into the educational process in the complex.

Fear, isolation and the importance of support: A qualitative study of parents' experiences of feeding a child born with esophageal atresia

ObjectiveFeeding and swallowing difficulties in children are increasing due to improved survival rates of children with complex medical conditions. Despite being common complications of esophageal atresia (EA), EA related feeding difficulties have received little attention in research. Establishing positive feeding interactions and practices are important for child health and development, and for parental and child mental health. The current study aimed to investigate the parental experiences of feeding a child born with EA. MethodsAn international online survey was developed and disseminated to parents of children born with EA, aged 0–12 years, in collaboration with a patient charity for EA. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used to analyze the qualitative survey responses. Results176 participants were included in the qualitative sample from a larger international online survey study, chosen by a process of selective coding. Three themes were constructed during the analysis: 1) Anxiety, trauma and loss; 2) Isolated and unsupported; and 3) Supported. The results indicated that parents of children born with EA experienced significant anxiety related to their child's swallowing and feeding difficulties and traumatic experiences during feeding, and that these led to parents feeling a sense of loss and sadness. It was also found that support, or a lack of support, within parents' social environment might mediate parental experiences of child's feeding difficulties. ConclusionsThis study highlighted the importance of support for parents of children born with EA, and suggested a need for improved guidance for feeding and swallowing difficulties.

Factors associated with parental burden among parents of children with food allergies in China: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the factors associated with parental burden among parents of children with food allergies (FA) in China.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThe participants were recruited through the internet and one...

Evaluation of Social Support for Parents of Children with Congenital Heart Disease Referred to Imam Khomeini Clinic at Hamadan City, 2021

Evaluation of Social Support for Parents of Children with Congenital Heart Disease Referred to Imam Khomeini Clinic at Hamadan City, 2021