Effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the mental health of carers of people with intellectual disabilities

Introduction The measures implemented to manage the COVID‐19 pandemic have been shown to impair mental health. This problem is likely to be exacerbated for carers. Method Informal carers (mainly parents) of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, and a comparison group of parents of chil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities 2020-11, Vol.33 (6), p.1523-1533
Main Authors: Willner, Paul, Rose, John, Stenfert Kroese, Biza, Murphy, Glynis H, Langdon, Peter E, Clifford, Claire, Hutchings, Hayley, Watkins, Alan, Hiles, Steve, Cooper, Vivien
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Anxiety
Betacoronavirus
Caregivers
Caregivers - psychology
carers
Child
Coping
Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology
Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control
Coronavirus Infections - psychology
COVID-19
depression
Depression (Psychology)
Disease control
Female
Health Needs
Health Services Needs and Demand
Humans
Intellectual disabilities
Intellectual Disability
Intellectual Disability - psychology
Male
Mental depression
Mental Health
Mental Health - statistics & numerical data
Pandemics
Pandemics - prevention & control
Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology
Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control
Pneumonia, Viral - psychology
Psychosocial Support Systems
Qualitative Research
SARS-CoV-2
Social Isolation - psychology
Social Support
Social Support Groups
Stress
Stress Variables
Stress, Psychological
Surveys and Questionnaires
United Kingdom - epidemiology
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Summary:Introduction The measures implemented to manage the COVID‐19 pandemic have been shown to impair mental health. This problem is likely to be exacerbated for carers. Method Informal carers (mainly parents) of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, and a comparison group of parents of children without disabilities, completed an online questionnaire. Almost all the data were collected while strict lockdown conditions were in place. Results Relative to carers of children without intellectual disability, carers of both children and adults with intellectual disability had significantly greater levels of a wish fulfilment coping style, defeat/entrapment, anxiety, and depression. Differences were 2–3 times greater than reported in earlier pre‐pandemic studies. Positive correlations were found between objective stress scores and all mental health outcomes. Despite their greater mental health needs, carers of those with intellectual disability received less social support from a variety of sources. Conclusions The greater mental health needs of carers in the context of lesser social support raises serious concerns. We consider the policy implications of these findings.
ISSN:1360-2322
1468-3148
DOI:10.1111/jar.12811