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Redquest B, Clark CA, Sanguino H, Lunsky Y, Hutton S, Weiss J, Davies T, McMorris CA. The feasibility of an adapted virtual mindfulness intervention for Special Olympics athletes and their caregivers. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil 2024; 37:e13229. [PMID: 38644053 DOI: 10.1111/jar.13229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virtual mindfulness may be helpful for individuals with intellectual disabilities in the context of COVID-related disruptions of in-person programming, such as Special Olympics (SO). This study examined the feasibility of a virtual mindfulness intervention for SO athletes and their caregivers. METHOD SO athletes (n = 44) and their caregivers (n = 29) participated in a 6-week adapted virtual mindfulness intervention. Athletes completed mindfulness and well-being questionnaires prior to, immediately following, and 3-months post-intervention. Caregivers completed questionnaires assessing their own stress, mindfulness, and well-being, as well as athlete mental health. Exit interviews were conducted immediately following the intervention. RESULTS The intervention was feasible in terms of demand, implementation, acceptability, and limited testing efficacy. There were significant improvements in athlete well-being and mental health, and caregiver stress and mindfulness post-intervention. CONCLUSIONS Adapted virtual mindfulness groups may be an effective intervention in improving the well-being of adults with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianne Redquest
- School and Applied Child Psychology, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Chris A Clark
- School and Applied Child Psychology, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hangsel Sanguino
- School and Applied Child Psychology, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yona Lunsky
- Azrieli Neurodevelopmental Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sue Hutton
- Azrieli Neurodevelopmental Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonathan Weiss
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tom Davies
- Special Olympics Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carly A McMorris
- School and Applied Child Psychology, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Turner KM, Weiss JA, Howe SJ, Sanguino H, Kerns CM, Ames ME, McMorris CA. Autistic characteristics and mental health symptoms in autistic youth during the first COVID-19 wave in Canada. Autism Res 2023; 16:1009-1023. [PMID: 36916420 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Autistic youth are at heightened risk for mental health issues, and pandemic-related stressors may exacerbate this risk. This study (1) described caregiver-reported youth mental health prior to and during the pandemic; and (2) explored individual, caregiver, and environmental factors associated with changes in autistic characteristics, social-emotional symptoms, and overall mental health. 582 caregivers of autistic children (2-18 years old) completed an online survey between June and July 2020 in which they provided demographic information, their child's pre-COVID and current mental health, autistic characteristics, and social-emotional symptoms. Caregivers also rated their own perceived stress, and COVID-related household and service disruption. According to caregivers, youth experienced more autistic characteristics and social-emotional concerns during the pandemic. Autistic youth were also reported to experience poorer overall mental health during the pandemic than before the pandemic. Older youth whose caregiver's indicated higher perceived stress and greater household disruption were reported to experience more autistic traits during pandemic. Caregiver-reported increases in youth social-emotional symptoms (i.e., behavior problems, anxiety, and low mood) was associated with being older, the presence of a pre-existing mental health condition, higher caregiver stress, and greater household and service disruption. Finally, experiencing less household financial hardship prior to COVID-19, absence of a pre-existing psychiatric condition, less caregiver stress, and less service disruption were associated with better youth pandemic mental health. Strategies to support the autistic community during and following the pandemic need to be developed. The developmental-ecological factors identified in this study could help target support strategies to those autistic youth who are most vulnerable to mental health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kailyn M Turner
- Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jonathan A Weiss
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephanie J Howe
- Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hangsel Sanguino
- Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Connor M Kerns
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Megan E Ames
- Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Carly A McMorris
- Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Xie EB, Sedov ID, Sanguino H, Freeman M, Kumari J, Tomfohr-Madsen L. Trait mindfulness and sleep: Interactions between observing and nonreactivity in the association with sleep health. Health Psychol Open 2023; 10:20551029221149282. [PMID: 36756172 PMCID: PMC9900671 DOI: 10.1177/20551029221149282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study investigated the associations between trait mindfulness and sleep health and examined the interactions between theoretically related mindfulness subscales. Participants (n = 162, Mage = 19.93) reported trait levels of mindfulness and sleep was assessed using questionnaires and actigraphy. Higher mindfulness scores in awareness, nonreactivity, and nonjudgment were associated with better sleep health. The associations between observing and sleep health were moderated by nonreactivity. Results indicate that observing is associated with better sleep health at higher levels of nonreactivity and worse sleep health at lower levels, helping to explain the often-contradictory findings between observing and health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ivan D. Sedov
- Department of Psychology,
University
of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Hangsel Sanguino
- Department of Psychology,
University
of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Makayla Freeman
- Department of Educational and
Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jeshna Kumari
- Faculty of Nursing,
University of
Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen
- Department of Educational and
Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, BC, Canada ,Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen, Department of
Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, University of
British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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Silang K, Sanguino H, Sohal PR, Rioux C, Kim HS, Tomfohr-Madsen LM. eHealth Interventions to Treat Substance Use in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:9952. [PMID: 34639252 PMCID: PMC8507611 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18199952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Substance use during pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes; eHealth interventions offer a potential accessible treatment option. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of eHealth interventions for the treatment of substance use during pregnancy. A comprehensive search of PsycINFO, Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane and Embase databases was conducted from May 2020 to April 2021. The protocol for this study was registered with Prospero (CRD42020205186) through the University of York Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. Two independent reviewers completed screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. RCTs were included if they reported: (a) administration of an eHealth intervention for (b) substance use outcomes, among (c) pregnant individuals. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software (CMA) was used to calculate pooled effect sizes (Odds Ratio) to determine the effect of eHealth interventions on substance use outcomes. Six studies were identified with substance use outcomes that included: smoking (n = 3), alcohol (n = 2), and other (n = 1). eHealth interventions were delivered through the internet (n = 1), computer (n = 3), telephone (n = 1), and text (n = 1). Results suggested that eHealth interventions significantly reduced substance use in pregnant individuals compared to controls (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.65, p = 0.013). eHealth interventions offer a promising and accessible treatment option to reduce substance use during pregnancy. This work was supported by the generous donors of the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation, the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program (CCHCSP), the Canadian Institute of Health Research and the Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Santé.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Silang
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; (K.S.); (H.S.); (P.R.S.)
| | - Hangsel Sanguino
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; (K.S.); (H.S.); (P.R.S.)
| | - Pooja R. Sohal
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; (K.S.); (H.S.); (P.R.S.)
| | - Charlie Rioux
- Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA;
| | - Hyoun S. Kim
- Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada;
| | - Lianne M. Tomfohr-Madsen
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; (K.S.); (H.S.); (P.R.S.)
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
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