Families of Youth with Developmental Disabilities: a Theory-Based Intervention
University of Notre Dame
Summary
This study is designed to evaluate a preventive intervention program designed to support families (parents and typically developing adolescent siblings) that include a child with an intellectual and/or developmental disability. Participant families will be randomly assigned to either the treatment condition, in which they will receive psychoeducation and communication coaching over a four-week period, or the control condition, in which they will receive self-study materials. All subjects will participate in a pre-test assessment and three post-test assessments over the course of the year.
Description
A critical need exists for an evidence-based program to ameliorate the impact of family stress and conflict on the overall well-being of parents and TD siblings, as well as individuals with IDD. Our objective in this study is to test the efficacy for parents, TD siblings, and children with IDD of an adaptation of the psycho-educational and communication training approach used in a previously validated prevention/intervention program for community families, and to examine the mechanisms associated with change processes that occur as a result of the 4-week program. Our long-term goal is to incre…
Eligibility
- Age range
- Not specified
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants in all conditions will include mothers, fathers, TD siblings between 11 and 17 years old, and individuals with IDD of any age. * Participants must be able to understand and respond to survey questions in English * Parents must be cohabitating, with both participating children living in their home. * Individual with IDD falls into one or more of the following categories: 1) meets criteria for an intellectual disability, which would mean a measured IQ of 70-75 or lower and a measured Adaptive Functioning score of 70-75 or lower, 2) meets criteria for an Autism…
Interventions
- BehavioralCenter Sessions
Program to support relationships and communication between parents and typically developing adolescent siblings of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
- BehavioralAt-home
Self-study resources paired with regular contact with study personnel.
Locations (2)
- Wm. J. Shaw Center for Children and FamiliesFort Wayne, Indiana
- Wm. J. Shaw Center for Children and FamiliesSouth Bend, Indiana