Papers by Richard Hastings
Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, Dec 5, 2016
Background: Little is known about the experiences of parents whose sons or daughters are diagnose... more Background: Little is known about the experiences of parents whose sons or daughters are diagnosed with ASD during adulthood. Method: Six mothers of adults recently diagnosed with ASD were interviewed about the ASD assessment process. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interviews. Results: Two superordinate themes are described: 1) biographical continuity, and 2) biographical disruption. Mothers did not experience significant disruption around the ASD assessment itself, as they had sought an explanation for their son/daughters behaviour since childhood. Therefore, being referred for an ASD assessment was simply another assessment for their son or daughter and was thus a biographical continuity. Mothers experienced biographical disruption once an ASD diagnosis was received, as they realised that an ASD diagnosis did not result in any additional support, and found this greatly frustrating. Conclusions: There is an unmet need for post-diagnostic support among adults diagnosed with ASD, and for their parents.
Frontiers in Education, May 21, 2019
Mental Handicap Research, Apr 7, 2020
We were all overwhelmed with great sadness when we learned that Bill Lindsay had unexpectedly pas... more We were all overwhelmed with great sadness when we learned that Bill Lindsay had unexpectedly passed away on 26 March 2017. Bill was known and loved by so many of us, but especially, he was loved by his family. Bill was the beloved husband of Isobel and father to David, Jennifer and Amy. He was also grandfather to seven grandchildren. He is survived by his mother. Bill was born in Glasgow in 1952 and had a sister named Ella. The family moved from Glasgow to Kilmarnock, and he attended Kilmarnock Academy. Bill was said to be not markedly fond of school This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Advances in neurodevelopmental disorders, May 4, 2018
Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are more likely to engage in beha... more Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are more likely to engage in behavior problems than children without IDD. In the present study, we explored whether adverse life experiences and events were related to child behavioral and emotional problems. We also examined whether child resilience would act as a protective factor in this putative association between adverse experiences and child behavioral and emotional problems. Mothers of 310 children with IDD aged between four and 15 years old completed a cross-sectional online survey including measures of exposure to adverse life experiences, child resilience, and behavior and emotional problems. In moderated multiple regression models, we found that exposure to adverse life experiences had a positive association with child behavior problems and peer problems and that these associations were moderated by child resilience. Resilience served a protective functionlowering risk of problems for children exposed to adversity. Child resilience also served a compensatory function; being directly associated with fewer conduct and emotional problems, and increased pro-social behavior. Child resilience may be an important factor in understanding the behavior and emotional problems of children with IDD. Further, especially longitudinal, research is needed. Interventions designed to increase children's resilience may be beneficial for children with IDD.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Mar 19, 2022
Adult siblings are potentially important sources of care, support, advocacy, and friendship for t... more Adult siblings are potentially important sources of care, support, advocacy, and friendship for their brothers and sisters with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Drawing on data about 851 adult siblings who completed an online national survey, we examined predictors and potential key moderators of siblings' mental distress, wellbeing, quality of life, and health outcomes. Moderated regression analyses indicated that siblings experiencing higher levels of subjective poverty; siblings with brothers and sisters with lower levels of independence; and siblings who are carers and also experiencing low levels of subjective poverty, had worse outcomes and may be in need of specific supports. Compared to normative samples, adult siblings of people with IDD had worse outcomes across the measures.
Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, Jan 3, 2019
Please refer to published version for the most recent bibliographic citation information. If a pu... more Please refer to published version for the most recent bibliographic citation information. If a published version is known of, the repository item page linked to above, will contain details on accessing it.
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, Feb 26, 2018
Background: Little is known about the role of living circumstances to the perception of subjectiv... more Background: Little is known about the role of living circumstances to the perception of subjective wellbeing (SWB) and health of adults with intellectual disability (ID). The aim of the present study was to examine whether living circumstances impact differently on the perception of health and SWB and whether potential differences persist after accounting for other variables (e.g. level of support needs and reporting method). Methods: Secondary data analysis was undertaken of a large national survey of adults with an ID in England, aged 16 years and over. Participants were identified as living with family (N = 1528) or living out of home (N = 874). Results: The results of t-test and chi-square revealed that levels of health and SWB were perceived as being higher for people living with family than those living in out-of-home settings. Multiple linear regression analyses fitted to explore factors associated with these reported differences revealed that, when controlling for other variables, living with family was highly associated with reports of better SWB. Multiple logistic regression revealed that whilst the health status of people living with families were perceived as better, this was only true when their support needs were low. Poorest health outcomes were found for people with highest support needs who lived with family. Conclusions: On the whole, the health and well-being of adults living with family were perceived more positively than those living out of home. However, potential health disparities exist for those with high support needs who live with family. Further longitudinal research is needed to explore causes and potential solution to these inequalities.
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, Aug 3, 2017
Background Despite the elevated levels of stress, anxiety and depression reported by mothers of c... more Background Despite the elevated levels of stress, anxiety and depression reported by mothers of children with intellectual disabilities (ID), these mothers also experience positive well-being and describe positive perceptions of their child. To date, maternal positivity has been operationalised in different ways using a variety of measures. In the present study, we tested whether a latent construct of maternal positivity could be derived from different measures of positivity. Method One hundred and thirty five mothers of 89 boys and 46 girls with ID between 3 and 18 years of age completed measures on parental self-efficacy, their satisfaction with life, family satisfaction, their positive affect and their positive perceptions of their child with ID. We conducted a confirmatory factor analysis of latent positivity, and subsequently tested its association with child social skills and behaviour problems, and maternal mental health. Results A latent maternal positivity factor achieved a statistically good fit using the five observed indicators of positivity. Parental self-efficacy had the strongest loading on the latent factor. Maternal positivity was significantly negatively associated with maternal psychological distress, maternal stress, and child problem behaviours and positively associated with child positive social behaviour. Conclusions These findings lend support to the importance of examining parental positivity in families raising a child with ID, and using multiple indicators of positivity. Associations with negative psychological outcomes suggest that interventions focused on increasing parental positivity may have beneficial effects for parents. Further research is needed, especially in relation to such interventions.
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, Oct 11, 2016
Background In meeting the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) who access hea... more Background In meeting the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) who access health services, a brief, holistic assessment of need is useful. This study outlines the development and testing of the Learning Disabilities Needs Assessment Tool (LDNAT), a tool intended for this purpose. Method An existing mental health (MH) tool was extended by a multidisciplinary group of ID practitioners. Additional scales were drafted to capture needs across six ID treatment domains that the group identified. LDNAT ratings were analysed for the following: item redundancy, relevance, construct validity and internal consistency (n = 1692); test-retest reliability (n = 27); and concurrent validity (n = 160). Results All LDNAT scales were deemed clinically relevant with little redundancy apparent. Principal component analysis indicated three components (developmental needs, challenging behaviour, MH and well-being). Internal consistency was good (Cronbach alpha 0.80). Individual item test-retest reliability was substantial-near perfect for 20 scales and slight-fair for three scales. Overall reliability was near perfect (intra-class correlation = 0.91). There were significant associations with five of six conditionspecific measures, i.e. the Waisman Activities of Daily Living Scale (general ability/disability), Threshold Assessment Grid (risk), Behaviour Problems Inventory for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities-Short Form (challenging behaviour) Social Communication Questionnaire (autism) and a bespoke physical health questionnaire. Additionally, the statistically significant correlations between these tools and the LDNAT components made sense clinically. There were no statistically significant correlations with the Psychiatric Assessment Schedules for Adults with Developmental Disabilities (a measure of MH symptoms in people with ID). Conclusions The LDNAT had clinically utility when rating the needs of people with ID prior to conditionspecific assessment(s). Analyses of internal and
Journal of Child and Family Studies, Jul 20, 2018
Although mothers raising children with Intellectual Disability (ID) report poorer mental health t... more Although mothers raising children with Intellectual Disability (ID) report poorer mental health than parents raising typically developing children, they also report feelings of positivity; both generally and specific to their child. To date little is known about the function of maternal positivity thus, we explored the putative compensatory and protective functions of maternal positivity, within both a cross-sectional and one-year longitudinal framework that examined the relationship between children's behaviour and mental health problems with maternal mental health problems. Participants included 135 mothers of children with severe ID who were between 3 and 18 years of age. Multiple linear regression models investigated the potential function of maternal positivity. At a cross-sectional level, maternal positivity was found to be a significant independent predictor of maternal stress and moderated the impact of child behaviour problems on maternal parenting stress. Longitudinally, maternal positivity did not have a direct effect on later parenting stress nor function as a moderator. Findings from our cross-sectional analysis are consistent with the view that positivity serves a compensatory function. Further exploration is needed to understand the longitudinal function of maternal positivity.
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Jun 21, 2019
Please refer to published version for the most recent bibliographic citation information. If a pu... more Please refer to published version for the most recent bibliographic citation information. If a published version is known of, the repository item page linked to above, will contain details on accessing it.
British Journal of Psychiatry, Nov 17, 2020
Checklist (DBC2-P) to determine clinical caseness, the area under the curve for the SDQ total dif... more Checklist (DBC2-P) to determine clinical caseness, the area under the curve for the SDQ total difficulties score was .876 (95% CI = .841, .911), indicating it is a good measure for identifying significant emotional and behavioural difficulties requiring further investigation. Analyses supported the use of the same cut-off for those with and without ID, which may assist with consistent and comparable assessment in clinical practice.
Child Development, Jun 17, 2019
A family developmental framework was applied to data from families of children with intellectual ... more A family developmental framework was applied to data from families of children with intellectual disabilities to understand the role of parenting in the path from early adversity to problem behaviors in mid-childhood. Data from nine months to 11 years tested the Family Stress Model in families of 555 children. Adversarial parenting between three and five years mediated the path from early adversity (family poverty and maternal psychological distress at nine moths) to problem behaviours at seven and 11 years. Positive parent-child relationship only mediated the path to conduct problems. Multiple mediation was not present. Early adversity impacts both positive parent-child relationship and adversarial parenting between three and five, but the latter is crucial for problem behaviors in mid-childhood.
Journal of Child and Family Studies, Apr 5, 2019
Objectives Positive Behavioral Support (PBS) is considered the treatment framework of choice for ... more Objectives Positive Behavioral Support (PBS) is considered the treatment framework of choice for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) at risk of behavior that challenges. PBS demands stakeholder engagement, yet little research has explored goal formation in this context for caregivers of children with IDD. Methods We used Talking Mats and semi-structured interviews to support 12 caregivers of children with IDD who displayed behaviours that challenge, to develop goals for PBS. Interviews covered quality of life for caregivers and their child, adaptive and challenging aspects of child behavior, and aspects of caregiver's own behavior. Results Caregivers were able to form individualised and meaningful goals in relation to all domains, demonstrating rich insight into personal needs and needs of their child. The process of forming goals was psychologically and emotionally complex given prior experiences and needs of participants but effectively supported by the interview method. Conclusions We conclude that goal formation in PBS requires careful consideration and structuring but has the potential to support effective working relationships and ensure assessment and intervention is aligned with the needs and aspirations of families.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Jan 9, 2021
Mindfulness-based approaches have been shown to be effective in improving the mental health of pa... more Mindfulness-based approaches have been shown to be effective in improving the mental health of parents of youth and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, but prior work suggests that geography and caregiving demands can make in-person attendance challenging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary outcomes of a mindfulness-based group intervention delivered to parents virtually. It was feasible to deliver this manualized intervention. Twenty-one of 39 parents completed the intervention and completers reported high satisfaction ratings. Parents reported reduced levels of distress, maintained at 3-month follow-up, and increased mindfulness. Changes reported following intervention were similar to changes reported in a prior study of parents competing an in person mindfulness group.
Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, Jul 14, 2019
No studies exist which explore placement behaviours of families of adults with intellectual disab... more No studies exist which explore placement behaviours of families of adults with intellectual disabilities. Methods: A prospective design was adopted to examine changes in placement decision of 75 family carers over a 12-month period. Factors associated with changes were also examined. Results: Over 12 months, 30 families moved closer to considering an out-ofhome placement. Of these 14 had placed their relative out-of-home. Active coping strategies were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of continued home care. Whilst the results were similar to studies with children with ID/ASD, a move out-of-home occurred more quickly for adults. This may reflect current social policy and societal attitudes where a move out-of-home is more normative for adults with ID. The lack of association with all but one carer/care recipient factors suggest that changes in placement tendencies for adults may differ from that of children.
Tizard Learning Disability Review, Jul 13, 2018
Please refer to published version for the most recent bibliographic citation information. If a pu... more Please refer to published version for the most recent bibliographic citation information. If a published version is known of, the repository item page linked to above, will contain details on accessing it.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Purpose: The present study investigated school absence among 1,076 5–15 year-old children with ne... more Purpose: The present study investigated school absence among 1,076 5–15 year-old children with neurodevelopmental conditions (intellectual disability and/or autism) approximately one year following the start of COVID-19 in the UK. Methods: Parents completed an online survey indicating whether their child was absent from school during May 2021 and the reason for each absence. Multi-variable regression models investigated child, family and school variables associated with absenteeism and types of absenteeism. Qualitative data were collected on barriers and facilitators of school attendance. Results: During May 2021, 32% of children presented with persistent absence (missing ≥ 10% of school). School refusal and absence due to ill-health were the most frequent types of absence, accounting for 37% and 22% of days missed, respectively. COVID-19 related absence accounted for just 11% of days missed. Child anxiety was associated with overall absenteeism and with days missed because of schoo...
New Media & Society
Having a disability, in particular, an intellectual disability, is associated with Internet non-u... more Having a disability, in particular, an intellectual disability, is associated with Internet non-use. This article explores how people with intellectual disabilities used the Internet across the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic. In April to May 2021, 571 adults with intellectual disabilities were interviewed. Participants most commonly used the Internet for being with family and friends, social media or doing online activities with other people. People who lived with family were the most likely to use social media; people who lived with other people with intellectual disabilities were the least likely. People who self-reported as not lonely were more likely to use the Internet for online activities with others and play video games with others. Social connections were identified as the best thing about the Internet. Many participants chose not to identify a worst thing about Internet use, while others reported issues with technology, online harm and threats to well-being.
University of Warwick, Mar 1, 2021
We want to thank all the people who were interviewed by researchers, and those who completed the ... more We want to thank all the people who were interviewed by researchers, and those who completed the online survey. We also want to thank the members of our advisory groups in each country for their ideas and feedback about this study. We are extremely grateful to them for helping us to steer this research to be the most useful and informative that it could be for people with learning disabilities in the UK. Finally, we want to thank the team of interviewers across the UK for working on this study.
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Papers by Richard Hastings