Psychological correlates of well-being in direct care staff in services for children with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour

Working with people with learning disabilities can be stressful for direct care staff; as many as one-third of staff members in adult services experience stress levels indicative of a mental health problem. In addition to adverse effects on staff mental and physical health, staffstress can impact on the delivery and quality of services for people with learning disabilities. Challenging behaviour is recognised as a significant source of staff stress. Both adults and children with learning disabilitiesmay display challenging behaviours including self-injury and physical aggression, the severity and frequency of which can be extremely distressing for staff exposed to them on a daily basis.This thesis explored psychological mechanisms which may explain how challenging behaviour impacts on the well-being of care staff. Chapter One reviews the evidence for the roles of negative emotional reactions to challenging behaviour and the psychological resources of care staff in the development of stress and burnout. Chapter Two investigates whether experiential avoidance, thought suppression and mindfulness, which has been found to be significant predictors of mental health outcomes outside of the learning disabilities field, provides a psychological mechanism for understanding the relationshipbetween negative emotional reactions to challenging behaviour and staff well-being

Assembling Autism

Autism is a growing social concern because of the epidemic-like growth in diagnoses among children. The lives and experiences of adults who have an autism diagnosis, however, are not as well documented. This dissertation project seeks to resolve that dearth of research. I conducted a year of participant observation at four locations of social, self-advocacy, and peer to peer support groups. I also conducted interviews with leaders and participants. I also participated (as a researcher) in an experiment in social skills acquisition led by participants from my ethnographic field work, fulfilling the planned participatory action research component of my original proposal. I found that many of the problems my participants experienced were both mundane and routine for individuals who are marginalized, but at the same time, made extraordinary by the presence of autism. I found that the affective and sensory components of the disorder were primary in the lives of my participants, though these issues are generally secondary to the social complications that typify the social construction of autism elsewhere. I also found that my participants struggled to control the very meaning of autism, especially as the diagnostic criteria were rewritten. Autism has implications for Western notions of citizenship and subjectivity, as well as identity politics and social movements, namely that capacity for rationality is not necessarily associated with capacity for social interaction or independent living. Autism presents as a spectrum and constellation of impairments and differences, and as such, contests the notion of a unified self

Intentional Investing : the Principles, Practicalities and Pitfalls

Intentional Investing, published by ACF and sponsored by Cazenove Charities looks at whether and how charity investors might reflect their organisation's aims, values, or wider social goals into their investment practice. Written by Richard Jenkins and Kate Rogers, the report examines current responsible and ethical investment practice, drawing on the results of the biggest survey of its kind into the behaviours of charity investors. On the basis that only the trustee board can decide what is right for a charity, the report identifies the key questions trustees might consider to discover what is best in their context. This report also investigates: the impact of such responsible and ethical investment policies on long term investment returns; andthe principles, practicalities and pitfalls of reflecting your charity's values and aims in your investments

For Good And Not For Keeps: How Long-term Charity Investors Approach Spending on Their Charitable Aims

For Good And Not For Keeps was commissioned to explore one of the most testing questions faced by trustees of charities with long-term missions who rely on investment assets to fund their activities. 'How much can we safely spend on our charitable activities year on year while preserving the value of our investment assets for future generations?'. This report addresses those charities with a long-term mission that rely on the return from investment assets to fund their charitable activities year on year. It has been written primarily to help charity trustees and staff think through their approach to managing the often competing concerns they experience. It may also interest those who advise them or who aim to support the sector. The report presents some technical information, but is aimed at the 'lay', or non-expert, reader with no professional legal, financial or investment experience but who may find themselves involved in governing or managing charities with investments

CT-PTSD following a COVID-19 ICU admission in the context of unresolved grief, delirium and incurable cancer:a single case design with an older adult client

This case study recounts an application of Ehlers and Clark's (2000) cognitive model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to post-intensive care unit (post-ICU) PTSD. An AB single case design was implemented. The referred patient, Rosalind (pseudonym), completed several psychometric measures prior to the commencement of therapy (establishing a baseline), as well as during and at the end of therapy. Idiosyncratic measures were also implemented to capture changes during specific phases of treatment. The importance of the therapeutic alliance, particularly in engendering a sense of safety, was highlighted. Findings support the use of cognitive therapy for PTSD (CT-PTSD) with an older adult, in the context of a coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19)-related ICU admission. This case is also illustrative of the effectiveness of implementing CT-PTSD in the context of co-morbid difficulties and diagnoses of delirium, depression, and complicated grief. Key learning aims (1) To recognise the therapeutic value of CT-PTSD in addressing PTSD following a COVID-19 admission, in the context of complicated grief and delirium. (2) To consider the importance of a strong therapeutic alliance when undertaking CT-PTSD. (3) To understand the intersection of complicated grief and delirium in the context of ICU trauma. (4) To consider the challenges in working with PTSD, whereby the target trauma (COVID-19 ICU admission) is linked with ongoing uncertainty and continuing indeterminate threat.</p

Analysis of the Relationship Between Exercise, Diet, and Motivation

This research focuses on the relationship between exercise, motivation and diet, and their association with one another. The research was further specified by studying the relationship between frequent exercise, which was determined to be four times a week or more, and the motivation to consume a nutrient-rich diet. An anonymous online survey was administered through word of mouth, social media apps, and group chats in which we received 138 responses. The survey included basic demographic questions and questions on eating habits, exercise habits, and mental health. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. The study results supported the study’s hypothesis that those who exercise frequently are more motivated to eat a healthier diet overall. A healthy diet was defined as one which is high in flaxseed, whole grains, and fruits and low in fast food, caffeine and food high in sugar. There is a positive correlation between frequent exercise and one’s likelihood of keeping track of and accomplishing goals (r=0.228**). Similarly, there was a positive correlation between frequent exercise and one’s willpower (r=0.196*) and their ability to enforce change in their own life (r=0.181*). Overall, frequent exercise was found to be positively correlated with a balanced diet and increased motivation to accomplish goals and enforce change in one’s life.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2022/1061/thumbnail.jp