Background

Affiliation has a positive role on well-being and human development. Most children and youth living in residential youth care (RYC) experienced maltreatment from significant others, becoming a particularly vulnerable group. Their complex needs require well trained caregivers who help them to heal and thrive.

Objective

This cluster randomized trial sought to test the Compassionate Mind Training program for Caregivers (CMT- Care Homes) effectiveness on affiliative outcomes across time.

Participants and setting

A sample of 127 professional caregivers and 154 youth from 12 Portuguese residential care homes (RCH) participated on this study.

Methods

RCHs were randomized to treatment (n = 6) and control (n = 6) groups. Caregivers and youth completed self-report measures at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up on social safeness and emotional climate. Caregivers were also evaluated on compassion outcomes.

Results

MANCOVA indicated large multivariate time X group effects. Univariate results suggested that caregivers from the treatment group showed improvements in compassion towards others and in self-compassion across time, while the control group gradually deteriorated in both variables. Youth and caregivers from the treatment group noticed a more soothing and safer RCH emotional climate, as well as feeling safer within relationships. At 6-month follow-up, improvements were retained by caregivers, but not by youth.

Conclusions

The CMT- Care Homes brings a new model to RYC, that represents a promising approach in promoting safe relationships and affiliative environments in RCHs. Supervision should be provided to monitor care practices and sustain change across time.

中文翻译：

---

在寄宿青年护理中营造一种亲和的环境：针对招募青年及其护理人员的护理人员进行富有同情心的心理培训计划的集群随机试验

背景

归属感对福祉和人类发展具有积极作用。大多数居住在青少年寄宿家庭（RYC）的儿童和青少年都经历过来自重要他人的虐待，成为一个特别脆弱的群体。他们复杂的需求需要训练有素的护理人员来帮助他们康复和茁壮成长。

客观的

该整群随机试验旨在测试护理人员慈悲心智训练计划（CMT-护理院）在不同时间对附属结果的有效性。

参与者和设置

来自 12 个葡萄牙养老院 (RCH) 的 127 名专业护理人员和 154 名青年参与了这项研究。

方法

RCHs 被随机分为治疗组 (n = 6) 和对照组 (n = 6)。看护者和青少年在基线、干预后和 6 个月的社会安全和情绪氛围跟进中完成了自我报告措施。照顾者也接受了同情结果的评估。

结果

MANCOVA 表明大的多变量时间 X 组效应。单变量结果表明，随着时间的推移，治疗组的照顾者对他人的同情心和自我同情心有所改善，而对照组在这两个变量上逐渐恶化。治疗组的青少年和看护者注意到 RCH 的情绪氛围更舒缓、更安全，并且在人际关系中感觉更安全。在 6 个月的随访中，护理人员保持了改善，但青少年没有。

结论

CMT- Care Homes 为 RCH 带来了一种新模式，代表了一种在 RCH 中促进安全关系和从属环境的有前途的方法。应提供监督以监测护理实践并持续改变。