Yona Lunsky1,2, Nicole Bobbette1,3, Megan Abou Chacra1, Wei Wang4, Haoyu Zhao4, Kendra Thomson1,5, Yani Hamdani1,6. 1. Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. 3. School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada. 4. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada. 5. Department of Applied Disability Studies, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada. 6. Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Workers supporting adults with intellectual disabilities experience significant stress in their essential role during COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of these workers and determine predictors of emotional distress. METHODS: Eight hundred and thirty-eight workers supporting adults with intellectual disabilities completed an online survey about their work during COVID-19 and their mental health in July 2020. RESULTS: One in four workers reported moderate to severe emotional distress. Being older and more experienced, having counselling services available through one's agency, and engaging in regular exercise or hobbies outside work were associated with less distress. Workers who reported increased stress in the workplace, stigma towards their families because of their job, personal fears about spreading COVID-19, and receipt of medications for mental health conditions or therapy reported greater distress. CONCLUSIONS: More attention is needed to address the mental health of workers supporting adults with intellectual disabilities as they continue their essential work during the pandemic.
BACKGROUND: Workers supporting adults with intellectual disabilities experience significant stress in their essential role during COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of these workers and determine predictors of emotional distress. METHODS: Eight hundred and thirty-eight workers supporting adults with intellectual disabilities completed an online survey about their work during COVID-19 and their mental health in July 2020. RESULTS: One in four workers reported moderate to severe emotional distress. Being older and more experienced, having counselling services available through one's agency, and engaging in regular exercise or hobbies outside work were associated with less distress. Workers who reported increased stress in the workplace, stigma towards their families because of their job, personal fears about spreading COVID-19, and receipt of medications for mental health conditions or therapy reported greater distress. CONCLUSIONS: More attention is needed to address the mental health of workers supporting adults with intellectual disabilities as they continue their essential work during the pandemic.
Authors: Christine Linehan; Gail Birkbeck; Tal Araten-Bergman; Jennifer Baumbusch; Julie Beadle-Brown; Christine Bigby; Valerie Bradley; Michael Brown; Femmianne Bredewold; Masauso Chirwa; Jialiang Cui; Marta Godoy Gimenez; Tiziano Gomeiro; Šárka Kanova; Thilo Kroll; Henan Li; Mac MacLachlan; Jayanthi Narayan; Finiki Nearchou; Adam Nolan; Mary-Ann O'Donovan; Flavia H Santos; Jan Šiška; Tim Stainton; Magnus Tideman; Jan Tossebro Journal: HRB Open Res Date: 2022-04-04