Cognitive-Based Interventions for Improving Psychological Health and Well-Being for Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

This review aims to systematically summarize existing evidence to determine the effectiveness of cognitive-based interventions (CBIs) on psychological health and well-being among parents of children with developmental disabilities (DD). Six databases were searched to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from their inception to April 2023. The revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for RCTs was applied to assess the risk of bias and the certainty of evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model. Twenty-five RCTs involving 1915 participants were identified. The results indicated that CBIs reduced parental stress levels (Hedges’ g = − 0.69), depressive symptoms (g = − 0.95), anxiety levels (g = − 0.78), and parental distress (g = − 0.29), and improved parental well-being (g = 0.62) and parent‒child relationships (g = 0.43) postintervention compared with the active/inactive control groups. Subgroup analysis of the effectiveness of interventions using mindfulness-based interventions and cognitive behavioural therapy showed positive effects. The favourable intervention duration and participant targets were also identified in this review. Furthermore, the effects of CBIs were impacted by the different types of DD among the children. This review highlighted the positive effects of CBIs on parental stress levels, depressive symptoms, anxiety levels, parental distress levels, parental well-being levels, and parent‒child relationships. Future well-designed RCTs are needed to further investigate the effects of MBIs and CBT interventions on children with DD and their parents, as well as the factors and mechanisms of action affecting the efficacy of these interventions.

Positive family connections for families of children with a developmental disability: Cluster randomized controlled trial.

“…Various approaches for supporting mental health and family relationships in families of people with a developmental disability have been evaluated. Meta-analytic evidence indicates that cognitive-based (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based interventions) and psychoeducational interventions may be effective at improving the mental health of parents of people with a developmental disability (Bourke-Taylor et al, 2021; Li et al, 2023). However, these interventions are generally individually focused and may neglect the importance of the broader family context for adequately understanding the difficulties families of people with a developmental disability are experiencing and providing appropriate support.…”