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Exploring the Acceptability of a Peer-Delivered Mental Health Intervention to Support Young Adults With Intellectual
Ariel Schwartz1,2, Nikola Davern3, Alix Herer3
1Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA.
Background:
Young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities lack access to mental health supports. Peer-delivered services may fill this gap. We adapted a theory-driven and evidence-based peer mentoring intervention for virtual-delivery and investigated its acceptability and participants' preliminary response.
Methods:
Twelve young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities participated in the 16-week intervention and completed outcome measures at pre-mentoring, post-mentoring and 1-month follow-up. To evaluate acceptability, participants completed interviews and a survey. Preliminary response was measured with the Alexithymia Questionnaire for Children and PROMIS short forms (Self-efficacy for Managing Emotions, Anxiety, and Physical Stress).
Results:
Participants felt emotionally supported, increased self-understanding, and learned to use coping strategies. Participants reported improvements in alexithymia, self-efficacy for managing emotions and anxiety; no changes were observed for physical stress symptoms.
Conclusions:
Participants were satisfied with peer mentoring and data suggest it may have promise to support development of skills that support mental health outcomes.
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