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Effects of mindfulness, coping styles and resilience on job retention and burnout in caregivers supporting aggressive adults with developmental disabilities
Author(s) -
Nevill R. E.,
Havercamp S. M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of intellectual disability research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1365-2788
pISSN - 0964-2633
DOI - 10.1111/jir.12594
Subject(s) - mindfulness , psychology , coping (psychology) , burnout , openness to experience , psychological intervention , clinical psychology , psychological resilience , developmental psychology , psychotherapist , psychiatry , social psychology
Background Considering the growing body of studies investigating the effects of mindfulness‐based interventions on caregivers supporting people with developmental disabilities, the current study aimed to explore the role that the cognitive processes of mindfulness, coping style and resilience played in predicting caregiver retention and burnout among a sample of direct support professionals working with aggressive adults with developmental disabilities. Methods Ninety‐seven direct support professionals were surveyed to determine level of mindfulness, coping styles, resilience and burnout and were interviewed 3 months later to determine if they were still working with the aggressive adult. Results Mindfulness skills of describing non‐judgmentally and observing one's environment, as well as problem‐focused coping, emerged as protective factors against burnout, while avoidance‐focused and maladaptive coping emerged as risk factors. Mindful openness acted as the only predictor of job retention. Conclusions These results support that paid caregivers should receive trainings in mindfulness and positive coping mechanisms as part of their job trainings, to promote positive outcomes for both themselves and the people they support.