ERIC Number: EJ995643
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Feb
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0271-1214
EISSN: N/A
The Value of Workshops on Psychological Flexibility for Early Childhood Special Education Staff
Biglan, Anthony; Layton, Georgia L.; Jones, Laura Backen; Hankins, Martin; Rusby, Julie C.
Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, v32 n4 p196-210 Feb 2013
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 "experiential avoidance" (EA) and "mindful awareness" (MA) showed significant relationships to reports of depression, stress, and burnout. The intervention reduced staff members' EA, increased teachers' MA and "valued living" (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. (Contains 6 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Special Education, Depression (Psychology), Developmental Disabilities, Burnout, Preschool Teachers, Workshops, Young Children, Special Education Teachers, Self Efficacy, Early Childhood Education, Teacher Burnout, Anxiety, Faculty Mobility, Pilot Projects, Preschool Education, Evaluation, Intervention, Evidence, Feedback (Response)
SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A