Psychosocial intervention outcomes for caregivers of adolescents with intellectual disability in the COVID-19 era

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to prolonged home confinement for children and adolescents due to national lockdowns, resulting in school closures and the suspension of rehabilitation services. These measures aimed to curb the virus's spread but caused significant psychosocial distress among caregivers of adolescents with intellectual disability (ID). Objectives: This study aims to assess the psychosocial distress among caregivers of adolescents with ID, explore the coping strategies employed by these caregivers during the lockdown, and evaluate the impact of psychosocial interventions on caregivers of adolescents with ID. Material & Methods: A prospective pre and post-intervention study without a control group was conducted using consecutive sampling method. Fifteen caregivers of adolescents with ID registered at Government Rehabilitation Institute for Intellectual Disabilities, Chandigarh participated. Caregivers with a score of 20 or more on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) were included with their consent. Assessments were conducted using the Socio-demographic and Clinical Data Sheet, Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT), and Brief Cope scale. Psychosocial interventions were provided, followed by post-assessment with K10 and PAT scales over five video call sessions. Ethical clearance and Clinical Trials Registry India (CTRI) registration were obtained before starting the study. Data were analysed using SPSS 16, and the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to compare pre and post-intervention results. Results: Significant reductions in psychological distress were observed across all domains post-intervention, including nervousness, restlessness, sadness, tiredness, hopelessness, and feelings of worthlessness (p < .01 for some and p < .001 for others). Conclusions: Despite the small sample size, the study suggests that psychosocial interventions effectively reduce psychological distress and related psychosocial issues among caregivers of adolescents with ID. 

Keywords: Intellectual disability, COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown, caregivers, distress, psychosocial intervention, coping