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| Turning Group Disconnection Into Connection: Comprehensive Evaluation of Prosocial With Developmental Support Agencies’ Management Teams During COVID-19 |
| Saturday, May 27, 2023 |
| 3:30 PM–3:55 PM |
| Convention Center Mile High Ballroom 2A |
| Area: DDA |
| Chair: Laura E. Mullins (Brock University) |
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| Turning Group Disconnection Into Connection: Comprehensive Evaluation of Prosocial With Developmental Support Agencies’ Management Teams During COVID-19 |
| Domain: Applied Research |
| LAURA E. MULLINS (Brock University), Sabrina Palmer (Brock University), Priscilla Burnham Riosa (Brock University) |
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| Abstract: The pandemic presented agencies supporting adults with developmental disabilities with additional challenges in safely providing quality support, leading to increased stress and isolation among management teams. Prosocial is a process-based group intervention that uses Acceptance and Commitment Training to promote effective group functioning and psychological flexibility (Atkins et al., 2019). Using a quasi-experimental (waitlist-control) design, we evaluated the effects of a 4-session virtually-delivered Prosocial intervention on the group functioning of two management teams (n1=12, n2=7). This comprehensive evaluation included pre-post qualitative and quantitative questionnaires of well-being and group functioning and direct observations of goals and engagement conducted during weekly management meetings. Agency developed goals focused on reconnecting and supporting each other and improving meeting processes (e.g., staying engaged and reviewing helpful and unhelpful behaviours). Direct observations and content analysis of open-ended survey questions indicated progress toward the goals and improved group functioning and collaboration. However, the team’s group functioning ratings showed no significant improvements. Social validity data on participants’ experiences suggested that Prosocial was beneficial and feasible. Given that this study is one of the first formal empirical evaluations of Prosocial, we will describe the successes, challenges, and recommendations for future administrations of Prosocial. |
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