Abstract
In Singapore, preschool children with developmental disabilities receive developmental interventions by multidisciplinary teams of providers across various settings. Cessation of in-person sessions during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated providers to pivot rapidly and use virtual platforms to continue delivering interventions. This cross-sectional study assessed the effects of this challenging experience on providers’ psychological wellbeing, including resilience, depression, stress, and anxiety. Ninety-five providers anonymously completed (i) an online questionnaire which included questions on their perceptions of the provision of virtual services and stress; (ii) the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC); and (iii) the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). Among participants who used virtual platforms to continue providing interventions, 83.3% reported difficulties during sessions. Over half (57.9%; n = 55) reported increased stress compared to pre-COVID-19. The mean CD-RISC score (62.7; range: 36–88) was lower than that of general population samples, indicating reduced resilience. Lack of flexibility to work from home, difficulties providing interventions online, higher self-reported stress, and a non-hospital setting were significantly associated with lower resilience. Prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress were 13.7% (n = 13), 42.1% (n = 40), and 56.8% (n = 54), respectively, with school-based settings significantly associated with a positive screen for depression. The results reveal the often-invisible psychological ill-effects in providers of children with developmental disabilities and underscore the need for targeted support to improve their resilience and overall mental wellbeing so that they can continue to effectively provide the crucial interventions needed by the children under their care.
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Contributions
Conceptualization: Tammy SH Lim, Ying Qi Kang, Shang Chee Chong.
Methodology: Tammy SH Lim, Ying Qi Kang, Liang Shen.
Data curation: Mae Yue Tan, Tammy SH Lim, Ying Qi Kang, Phyllis PL Lim, Shang Chee Chong, Ramkumar Aishworiya.
Formal analysis: Mae Yue Tan, Phyllis PL Lim, Liang Shen, Ramkumar Aishworiya.
Writing – original draft preparation: Mae Yue Tan, Ramkumar Aishworiya.
Writing – review and editing: Mae Yue Tan, Tammy SH Lim, Ying Qi Kang, Phyllis PL Lim, Liang Shen, Shang Chee Chong, Ramkumar Aishworiya.
Supervision: Shang Chee Chong.
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Research Involving Human Participants and/or Animals
This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study questionnaire and methodology were approved by the National Healthcare Group (NHG) Domain Specific Review Board (DSRB) – Domain B, Singapore [Reference No.: 2020/00556].
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Participation in the study was voluntary and involved the anonymous completion of an online questionnaire. Submission of the completed questionnaire was thus interpreted as provision of consent to participate in the study (i.e., implied consent).
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Tan, M.Y., Lim, T.S., Kang, Y.Q. et al. Psychological Resilience of Providers of Children with Developmental Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Dev Phys Disabil (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-023-09926-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-023-09926-4