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Self‐compassion and psychological distress in parents of young people and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Author(s) -
Robinson Suzanne,
Hastings Richard P.,
Weiss Jonathan A.,
Pagavathsing Jaffni,
Lunsky Yona
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/jar.12423
Subject(s) - psychology , stressor , self compassion , coping (psychology) , mental health , distress , disadvantage , intellectual disability , compassion , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , early head start , mindfulness , psychiatry , political science , law
Background Parenting an individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities ( IDD ) can be challenging, particularly during adulthood. It is important to better understand ways of supporting families as individuals with IDD age. Self‐compassion is a potential internal coping resource for parents, and is strongly linked to positive mental health outcomes, though research has yet to examine it in parents of adults with IDD . Method The current study examines the association between self‐compassion and measures of well‐being for 56 parents of adults with IDD . Results Greater self‐compassion was related to lower levels of stress and depression, even after accounting for other known stressors, such as economic disadvantage, having a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, and high parent burden. Conclusions Self‐compassion may offer resiliency against these parenting challenges.