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Background: Despite the increased risk for people with an intellectual disability developing dementia, post‐diagnostic psychosocial supports such as cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) are not routinely offered and there is limited research examining this intervention with people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of CST for older adults with intellectual disability to support active ageing. Methods: Five client participants attended a 14‐session CST group and four staff attended a focus group. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to investigate the client and staff narratives. Results: Three key themes were generated: (1) Brain Health, (2) Connecting with others, and (3) Barriers and Enablers. Conclusion: Findings indicated the suitability of CST as a way of supporting active ageing for older adults with intellectual disability. This study adds to the growing knowledge about service provision for older adults and their changing needs as they age and identifies clinical implications such as staff training to support intervention adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the parental impact and experiences of caring for a child with Down's arthritis (DA), an aggressive, erosive form of arthritis affecting children with Down syndrome. Ten mothers of children with DA were interviewed via telephone. Interviews were guided using a semi-structured non-directive topic guide and ranged from 17 to 242 minutes in duration. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was the method of analysis. Three superordinate themes were identified: "Struggle for Help," "Mothers Know Best," and "Daily Impacts." Common challenges included issues around child pain, communication, and challenges in accessing diagnoses and relevant healthcare services. Parents portrayed a reality characterised by ongoing struggles, particularly parents of nonverbal children and those living further from paediatric rheumatology services. Connecting with other parents of children with DA provided a vital source of emotional and informational support. Findings provide novel insight into the experience of being mother of a child with DA, highlighting regional healthcare disparities, the need for upskilling of healthcare professionals, and for increased public awareness. Further research is needed to better understand the impact of DA on fathers and siblings. Findings can contribute to development and provision of supports to children with DA and their families. Healthcare professionals need to be upskilled in the treatment of, and communication with, children with Down syndrome with chronic illnesses and their families. A specialised stream of care for children with Down's arthritis (DA) within paediatric rheumatology services may facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment and minimise risk of future complications. Formalised support services for children with DA and their families are needed to minimise emotional distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study in the United Kingdom assessed the lifestyles of 19 elderly people with developmental disabilities residing in two community-based homes after living for many years in large institutions. A questionnaire assessing daily life, community-based activities, domestic tasks, and areas of personal responsibility found a generally good quality of life. (DB)

Using a sample of male participants (N = 136) from the Republic of Ireland, the aim of this study was to develop a psychometrically sound measure of male body image self-consciousness during physical intimacy (i.e., The Male Body Image Self-Consciousness Scale, M-BISC). As predicted, participants' body image self-consciousness correlated positively with their sexual anxiety and motivation to become more muscular, and correlated negatively with their sexual esteem, body esteem, and self-rated physical attractiveness. Limitations of this study and directions for future research are outlined. Keywords: body image, men's sexuality, appearance, psychometrics, Ireland, Body image has been described as a multidimensional phenomenon that includes self-perceptions and attitudes regarding one's physical appearance. Two core facets of body image attitudes are evaluative thoughts about one's [...]

One established method of examining the role of emotional regulation in coping with acute pain has been to look at baseline heart rate variability (HRV), whereby low variability is thought to reflect a lack of autonomic flexibility, and this has been associated with higher reports of pain and distress in adults (and vice versa - higher HRV variability is associated with better pain tolerance and reduced distress). Children often depend on their parents for help and coregulatory support to manage painful and stressful situations, as the capacity for emotion regulation develops gradually across childhood ([11]; [15]). [Extracted from the article]