title: Effectiveness of Caregiver Training in Mindfulness-Based Positive Behavior Support (MBPBS) vs. Training-as-Usual (TAU): A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: Caregivers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often end up having their medical and psychological well-being compromised due to the stressful nature of caregiving, especially when those in their care engage in aggressive behavior. In this study, we provided caregivers with mindfulness-based training to enable them to better manage their psychological well-being and, through this, to also enhance specific indices of quality of life of the individuals in their care. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) the comparative effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Positive Behavior Support (MBPBS) and Training-as-Usual (TAU) for caregivers in a congregate care facility for individuals with severe and profound IDD. The comparative effects of the two training conditions were assessed in terms of caregiver variables care recipient variable (number of aggressive events), and agency variables Results showed that MBPBS was significantly more effective than TAU in enabling the caregivers to manage their perceived psychological stress, and to reduce the use of physical restraints and stat medications for aggressive behavior of the individuals in their care. In addition, there were significant reductions in aggressive events by the individuals in their care, 1:1 staffing of individuals with aggressive behavior, and staff turnover. Furthermore, the MBPBS training was significantly more cost-effective than the TAU training. If replicated in future RCT studies, MBPBS may provide an effective means of enhancing socially acceptable bidirectional engagement of caregivers and care recipients within a person-centered context.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta UniversityAugusta, GA, USA; MacTavish Behavioral HealthRaleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Nirbhay N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The College of Wooster Wooster, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Karazsia
authors.affiliation: Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore, Singapore Singapore.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Massey University Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Alan S W
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Winton
keywords: 1:1 staffing; MBPBS program; Mindfulness-Based Positive Behavior Support; aggressive behavior; benefit-cost analysis; physical restraints; psychological stress; staff turnover