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ERIC Number: EJ1344687
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Sep
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1354-4187
EISSN: EISSN-1468-3156
Available Date: N/A
Feasibility of a Peer Mentoring Programme for Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions
Schwartz, Ariel E.; Levin, Melissa
British Journal of Learning Disabilities, v50 n3 p433-445 Sep 2022
Background: We conducted feasibility testing of a novel peer mentoring intervention addressing self-awareness and proactive coping for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. Aligned with regulatory flexibility theory, we hypothesised that if young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions learned a range of coping strategies, then they would have greater self-efficacy for managing their emotions and, subsequently, decreased mental health symptoms. Methods: Five participants (M[subscript age]: 20, range: 16-22) were mentored by another young adult with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions for 10 sessions. Feasibility data collected included the following: enrollment data, attendance rates, participant and parent member experiences and observation of change (via post-intervention interviews), and mentoring satisfaction via a mentoring questionnaire (range 15-60). Findings: Our enrolment rate was 16%. Mentoring was acceptable to young adults, as demonstrated by high attendance rates (98% of sessions attended), mentoring questionnaire responses (M=49.4) and feedback describing the intervention as enjoyable and mentors as "nice," and "understanding." Participants and parents reported potential change in self-efficacy for managing emotions (proximal outcome), use of coping strategies and self-awareness of needs, but few changes in mental health symptoms (distal outcomes). Conclusions: The peer mentoring intervention was feasible and acceptable for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. Results suggest a longer intervention duration may be necessary to elicit changes in mental health symptoms. To enhance feasibility, different recruitment strategies should be considered.
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www-wiley-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A