D'Aniello Receives Funding For Development & Implementation of A Mindfulness Based Intervention for Caregivers of Young Adults with Substance Use Disorders

January 25, 2021 |  

Carissa D'Aniello, an assistant professor of Marriage & Family Therapy, along with Rachel Tambling and Beth Russell from the University of Connecticut received $5,000 from the Mental Research Institute for their project, The Development and Implementation of A Mindfulness Based Intervention for Caregivers of Young Adults with Substance Use Disorders. Below, D'Aniello explains the project and her interest in the subject.

The project is to develop and pilot test the feasibility of an adaptation of the empirically supported caregiver therapy group called PRISM (Promoting Resilience in Self-Management). The aim of this project is to improve mental health, strengthen parental relationships with adult children, and reduce burden for the caregivers of young adults with substance use disorders (SUDs).

Researchers have partnered with Stages of Recovery, Addiction Treatment Services in Lubbock TX to offer multi-family treatment groups based on mindfulness and general systems theory. Mindfulness principles promote emotional acceptance and distress tolerance. General systems theory asserts that change in one part of a family system requires complementary changes in other part of the system. Therefore, when young adults enter recovery from substance use, the caregivers must change in meaningful ways to accommodate these changes. Offering family support to best navigate the strains of facilitating young adults recovery will lead to longer lasting, more pervasive second order change than individual treatment alone.

I have researched relational and systemic treatment initiation, engagement, and premature discontinuation for nearly 10 years. My interest has recently turned to populations that are most vulnerable to difficulties in treatment initiation and persistence, such as families in which one or more members has a SUD. I am further interested in the unique circumstances and stressors that caregivers of young adults face. Young adults are typically between 18 and 30 years old, and legally, are considered adults. However, it is highly likely that when a substance use disorder is present, it results in a delayed launching process, while young adults rely on their parents for emotional and financial support. Our aim is to support and advocate for families who are experiencing one of the most difficult and highly stigmatized situations a parent can face – their young adult child's SUD.

tags: Community Family & Addiction Sciences, Mental Health, Research Award Highlights