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Abstract
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Aims
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vital role of adult caregivers in fostering the healthy development of children and adolescents. Parental stress emerged as a significant risk factor for the psychosocial well-being of young individuals. Additionally, maintaining regular peer contact was identified as a crucial protective factor. This study aimed to enhance the involvement of adult caregivers in managing chronic psychological conditions in children and adolescents through the implementation of psychiatric rehabilitation programs at Fachkliniken Wangen. The objective was to empower caregivers as co-therapists via psychoeducational training, thereby promoting emotional regulation and developmental progress in young patients.
Methods
A new rehabilitation program with guideline-based, standardized educational and therapeutic interventions was introduced for children and adolescents with emotion-related participation impairments. Adult caregivers received structured psychoeducational training and were actively involved in therapy sessions. The study compared outcomes between an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG), considering factors like age, gender, and primary diagnoses.
Results and Conclusions
The average age of participants was 11.6 years (IG) and 11.1 years (CG). Approximately 60% of caregivers accompanied their children during rehabilitation, with 70% perceiving their involvement as highly impactful. Improvements were most notable in disease management, health knowledge, physical activity, and nutrition. Caregivers reported increased confidence in managing medications and a better understanding of their child's condition. Two years post-rehabilitation, over half of the children and 26.7% of caregivers still recognized significant benefits. The study confirms that caregiver involvement enhances therapeutic outcomes and supports sustainable psychosocial development. Further research is recommended to optimize caregiver integration in therapeutic settings.
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