The effect of technology assisted therapy for intellectually and visually impaired adults suffering from separation anxiety: Conquering the fear

N. Hoffman, P. S. Sterkenburg, E. Van Rensburg

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Persons with an intellectual disability (ID) are at risk of developing separation anxiety (SA) and, if left untreated, this can be a risk factor for the development of psychopathology. The effects of an intervention, namely technology assisted therapy for SA (TTSA), were examined on the SA, challenging behavior, psychosocial functioning, and quality of life (QOL) experienced by moderate to mild intellectually and visually disabled adults. This study aimed to determine whether TTSA reduces SA and challenging behavior in persons with ID and visual impairment, and if this results in increased psychosocial functioning and QOL. A pre-experimental within-group design with randomized multiple baselines and staggered intervention start-points was used (n = 6). The variables were monitored with standardized instruments. The frequencies of each participant’s use of the technology and the frequency and intensity of their behavior were recorded over time. Results indicate that the SA and challenging behavior experienced by the participants decreased significantly and their psychosocial functioning and QOL increased significantly. The conclusions are that TTSA has the potential to be a valid intervention to address SA in adults with visual and moderate to mild IDs.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)98-105
Number of pages8
JournalAssistive technology : the official journal of RESNA
Volume31
Issue number2
Early online date2 Nov 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Mar 2019

Funding

We kindly thank ZonMW-InZicht (grant ID: 60-00635-98-089), who financially supported this study. For the financial support provided by the VU University Centre for International Cooperation Amsterdam during a period of 3 months stay in The Netherlands, the first author wishes to communicate her sincere gratitude. We kindly thank ZonMW-InZicht, who financially supported this study. For the financial support provided by the VU University Centre for International Cooperation Amsterdam during a period of 3 months stay in The Netherlands, the first author wishes to communicate her sincere gratitude. The authors specially thank Wilco den Brok for the data gathering and preparation of the data sets. Carlo Schuengel, the head of the department for Child and Family studies at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, is thanked for his contribution to the article and for hosting one of the authors of this article at his department. The authors convey their gratitude to the independant researchers, Hannelies Hokke and Eva Nijs, for their involvement in this project. Sincere thanks to the clients and caregivers who participated in this study for their time, effort, and participation. We kindly thank ZonMW-InZicht (grant ID: 60-00635-98-089), who financially supported this study. For the financial support provided by the VU University Centre for International Cooperation Amsterdam during a period of 3 months stay in The Netherlands, the first author wishes to communicate her sincere gratitude.

FundersFunder number
VU University Centre for International Cooperation Amsterdam
Wilco den Brok
ZonMW-Inzicht60-00635-98-089

    Keywords

    • Journal Article

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