Understanding Special Olympics Experiences from the Athlete Perspectives Using Photo-Elicitation: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Many individuals with intellectual disabilities experience challenges to participating in organized sport, despite its known benefits. The aim of this qualitative study was to understand the experiences of participating in sport (Special Olympics) from the perspectives of athletes with intellectual disabilities. METHODS: Five participants (13-33 years of age) took part in a photo-elicitation project during a 1-month period. RESULTS: Our thematic analysis of participant photographs and descriptions revealed the following athlete themes: 'Connectedness' and 'Training in Sport'. CONCLUSION: Photo-elicitation was a useful and important tool in assisting athlete participants to communicate their motivations to participate in sport in ways that using traditional verbal interviewing would not.

Reliability and Validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory With Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) measures health-related quality of life, a growing area of research, particularly among individuals with disabilities. This research is necessary to fully understand the varied needs of the population and, ultimately, ensure that those needs are being met. The current study assessed the reliability and validity of the PedsQL in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Participants included 359 caregivers of children, youth, and young adults with IDD. Caregivers completed the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales questions regarding the individual's physical health and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The PedsQL achieved excellent reliability across scales, and distinguished healthy individuals from those with chronic health conditions, as well as individuals with ASD from those without. Factor analysis confirmed a 5-factor model, with moderate to high criterion validity. The PedsQL shows sound psychometric properties and may be a useful tool to measure psychosocial functioning in this population.

Direct and Indirect Psychosocial Outcomes for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their Parents Following a Parent-involved Social Skills Group Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the direct and indirect outcomes of a social skills group intervention for children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders and their parents. METHOD: Thirty-five children and their parents participated in the program evaluation. Children and parents completed measures of child social skills and problem behaviors. Children reported on their self-concept, and parents reported on their psychological acceptance and empowerment. RESULTS: Results indicate significant increases in overall child social skills according to parent and child report, in child general self-worth, and in parent service empowerment and psychological acceptance. CONCLUSION: While past program evaluations of social skills groups highlight changes in social competence, taking a broader perspective on the types of positive outcomes suggests potential benefits for both child and parent.

OBJECTIF: Cette étude examinait les résultats directs et indirects d'une intervention de groupe en aptitudes sociales pour des enfants au fonctionnement élevé souffrant de troubles du spectre de l'autisme et leurs parents. MÉTHODE: Trentecinq enfants et leurs parents ont participé à l'évaluation du programme. Parents et enfants ont répondu à des mesures des aptitudes sociales de l'enfant et des comportements problématiques. Les enfants ont rendu compte de leur concept de soi, ainsi que de leur acceptation psychologique et de leur habilitation. RÉSULTATS: Les résultats indiquent des augmentations significatives des aptitudes sociales des enfants en général, selon les rapports des parents et des enfants, de l'estime de soi des enfants en général, et de l'autonomisation des services et de l'acceptation psychologique des parents. CONCLUSION: Alors que les évaluations de programme passées des groupes d'aptitudes sociales présentent les changements des aptitudes sociales, l'adoption d'une perspective plus large des types de résultats favorables suggère des avantages potentiels pour les enfants et les parents.

The impact of child problem behaviors of children with ASD on parent mental health: the mediating role of acceptance and empowerment.

Raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has often been associated with higher levels of parenting stress and psychological distress, and a number of studies have examined the role of psychological processes as mediators of the impact of child problem behavior on parent mental health. The current study examined the relations among child problem behavior, parent mental health, psychological acceptance, and parent empowerment. Participants included 228 parents of children diagnosed with ASD, 6-21 years of age. As expected, psychological acceptance and empowerment were negatively related to the severity of parent mental health problems. When acceptance and empowerment were compared with each other through a test of multiple mediation, only psychological acceptance emerged as a significant partial mediator of the path between child problem behavior and parent mental health problems. As child problem behavior increased, parent psychological acceptance decreased, resulting in an increase in parent mental health problems. These findings suggest that for problems that are chronic and difficult to address, psychological acceptance may be an important factor in coping for parents of young people with ASD, in line with the growing literature on positive coping as compared with problem-focused coping.