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Background: This study aimed to understand parents' concerns about their adult child with intellectual disabilities due to the restriction of community-based services amid the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted face-to-face or by telephone with 19 parents of adult children with intellectual disabilities who had to stop using community-based services. Results: Participants worried that their adult child was not aware of the seriousness of COVID-19, was more susceptible to the COVID-19 virus, could not recognize self-infection and could have fatal consequences of getting infected with COVID-19. They expected challenges in their adult child's life (losing a daily routine, being isolated, regression in skills, becoming bored, lacking physical activities and increased behavioural challenges) but also experienced adjustments and hopes. Conclusion: The study demonstrated parents' worry about their adult child becoming infected with COVID-19, highlighting the urgent need for community-based services to address psychosocial challenges during the pandemic.

Background: As adults with intellectual disabilities approach older adulthood, they face unique physical and psychosocial challenges. This study explored the lived experiences of middle-aged adults with intellectual disabilities living in their community. Method: Six sessions of Photovoice were conducted with a purposeful sample of six middle-aged adults with intellectual disabilities in South Korea. Participants were involved with the theme selection, taking photographs related to the themes, group discussion of photo stories and sharing Photovoice outcomes. Results: Thematic analysis yielded 11 subthemes under the five major themes selected by the participants: health, free time, time in the centre, family and my future in old age. Conclusions: The study findings showed complex issues middle-aged adults with intellectual disabilities may face in later life, including bereavement and healthy lifestyle concerns. It is important to create a space for meaningful social support and social interactions without stigma.

Background: This study assessed the knowledge of personal safety skills among children with developmental disabilities and their parents' perceptions of children's knowledge. Method: This exploratory study examined the mental health records of 37 children with developmental disabilities referred for an abuse risk reduction group in a community mental health setting. Qualitative analysis of children's responses to questions about personal safety skills (knowledge related to physical development and personal safety, an appropriate and inappropriate touch and safety skills to respond to an inappropriate touch) indicated participants' varied and inconsistent levels of knowledge. Results: Consistent with the literature, the results indicate risk factors for sexual abuse among children with developmental disabilities, including children's difficulty distinguishing between an appropriate and inappropriate touch and the lack of knowledge regarding appropriate venues for disclosing an inappropriate touch. Among parents, a lack of certainty regarding their children's knowledge and the ability to keep themselves safe was identified. Conclusion: Results support the need for education about personal safety for children with developmental disabilities and their families.

The loss of a child greatly affects the dynamics of interpersonal relationships in bereaved families. This study explored the relationships in bereaved Korean families from the perspectives of mothers after the death of a child due to cancer. We conducted in-depth interviews with 15 bereaved mothers of a deceased child with childhood cancer. Thematic analysis identified 12 subthemes related to bereaved mothers' struggles in grief within three significant themes based on family relationships: (a) relationship with husband; (b) relationship with surviving child or children; and (c) relationships with extended family members. Findings highlight bereaved mothers' need to build supportive family relationships while acknowledging bereaved family members' different grieving styles and their own challenges in grieving the loss of a child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]