Coping with Death and Bereavement: A Proactive Intervention Program for Adults with Intellectual Disability

IntroductionLike the broader population, people with intellectual disability (ID) experience the process of grief after loss of a loved one. However, there are a series of risk factors characteristic of this population that can hinder the development of adaptive grief, including cognitive and affect...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Fernández-Avalos, MI, Fernández-Alcántara, M, Cruz-Quintana, F, Turnbull, OH, Ferrer-Cascales, R, Pérez-Marfil, MN
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:España
Institución:Instituto de Investigación Biomédica y Sanitaria de Alicante (ISABIAL)
Repositorio:r-ISABIAL. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica del Instituto de Investigación Biomédica y Sanitaria de Alicante
OAI Identifier:oai:isabial.fundanetsuite.com:p10052
Acceso en línea:https://isabial.portalinvestigacion.com/publicaciones10052
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Intellectual disability
concept of death
bereavement
intervention program
Descripción
Sumario:IntroductionLike the broader population, people with intellectual disability (ID) experience the process of grief after loss of a loved one. However, there are a series of risk factors characteristic of this population that can hinder the development of adaptive grief, including cognitive and affective aspects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief intervention program in people with ID to improve understanding of the concept of death, the grief processes, and adaptive attitudes.MethodA mixed method design that included a controlled, randomized research design, was used. A total of 38 people with ID participated. The variables measured were: grief, biological and cognitive concept of death.ResultsThe program significantly increased understanding in two dimensions of the concept of death, Inevitability and Universality, and demonstrated a greater understanding and healthier attitudes regarding death and grief.ConclusionsIt is recommended that, in future research studies, education on death be worked as early as possible in people with ID, in order to prevent future pathological grief.