The Efficacy of a Mindful Self-compassion Based Program With Caregivers of Young Offenders Placed at the Portuguese Juvenile Justice Facilities

Detailed Summary

The work carried out in Youth Detention Centers (YDC) represents a set of challenges for caregivers, who are in the frontline of juvenile delinquency. These professionals have daily to cope daily with work and relational challenges, while experiencing high levels of stress and physical and emotional fatigue. As such, taking care of the well-being of these professionals is of paramount importance, moreso as they are fundamental in the rehabilitation of young offenders. Still, the usual training/interventions offered to these professionals does not consider/fit to their psychological, emotional, or psychical difficulties. Recent studies have explored the impact of contextual cognitive-behavioral interventions with caregivers (e.g., parents of individuals with developmental disabilities, nurses, healthcare providers), namely those based on Mindfulness and Self-Compassion. The Mindfulness Self-Compassion Program (MSC) has been found to be effective in reducing caregivers' overwhelmed feelings about their own suffering and/or the suffering of others. This clinical trial intends to explore the adequacy of the adapted form of MSC (12 group sessions) to caregivers working in YDC, and to establish its effectiveness. Two main studies will be carried out: 1) a parallel non-randomized clinical trial, in which the effectiveness of the program will be explored, as well as the mechanisms of change of the participants' responsiveness to the intervention; and 2) individual interviews to assess qualitatively the participants' perception about the usefulness and impact of the intervention (concerning their relationship with youth and with work colleagues, their relationship with themselves and the general climate of the YDC). A sample of youth placed in each selected YDC will be recruited and will be assessed through self-report questionnaires at the same moments as caregivers samples. It is hypothesized that the adapted form of MSC will produce significant improvements in outcome measures when comparing caregivers who receive the intervention program with those in the control group. Specifically, it is expected an improvement in caregivers' positive feelings and well-being, in their sensitivity and compassion towards others' suffering, as well as a decrease on some indicators of stress and suffering. Consequently, it is also expected that youth in YDC perceive more warmth and safeness experiences with caregivers and report increases in their interpersonal functioning.

Study Details

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Interventions