The Value of Workshops on Psychological Flexibility for Early Childhood Special Education Staff

Overview

Journal Topics Early Child Spec Educ

Date 2013 Nov 14

PMID 24223451

Citations 9

Authors

Anthony Biglan

Georgia L Layton

Laura Backen Jones

Martin Hankins

Julie C Rusby

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

High stress and burnout are common for early childhood special educators, contributing to high rates of attrition, diminished educational effectiveness, and high turnover. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of problems. Using a randomized wait-list control design, this pilot study evaluated whether ACT workshops delivered to preschool teachers who serve children with developmental disabilities would improve stress-related problems of teachers (i.e., stress, depression, and burnout) and increase collegial support. At pretest, measures of (EA) and (MA) showed significant relationships to reports of depression, stress, and burnout. The intervention reduced staff members' EA, increased teachers' MA and (VL), and improved teachers' sense of efficacy. This suggests that ACT workshops can help influence factors affecting depression, stress, and burnout in an early childhood special education setting.

Citing Articles

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Intervention Programs Targeting the Mental Health, Professional Burnout, and/or Wellbeing of School Teachers: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses.

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Early Childhood Special Education Teachers' Job Burnout and Psychological Stress.

Jeon H, Diamond L, McCartney C, Kwon K Early Educ Dev. 2022; 33(8):1364-1382.

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Paliliunas D, Burke R, Taylor S, Frizell C, Durbin K, Hutchings D Behav Anal Pract. 2022; 16(1):156-171.

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Utilizing the AIM Curriculum to Improve Job Performance in an Educational Setting for Children With Autism and Related Disabilities.

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