Long-term follow-up for mothers of children with disability after healthy mothers healthy families e-workshops.

Authors

Helen M Bourke-Taylor, Tricia Mackay, Monica Leo, Loredana Tirlea

Published in

Australian occupational therapy journal. Volume 73. Issue 4. Pages e70107.

Abstract

Health disparities experienced by mothers of children with disability highlight the need for mental health and wellbeing interventions. This study investigated the health behaviour, health-seeking, mental health, wellbeing and longitudinal outcomes for participating mothers in the Healthy Mothers Healthy Families (HMHF) e-workshop package.
Data were collected at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2), 6 weeks post-workshop (T3), and 12 weeks post-workshop (T4). The HMHF package included: three, 2-hour HMHF e-workshops facilitated by trained peer facilitators, messaging group support, electronic workbook, and online modules. Outcome measures included the Health Promoting Activities Scale (HPAS); Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21); Psychological General Wellbeing Index - subscales wellbeing (PGWBI-PWB), vitality (PGWBI-VT) and general health (PGWBI-GH); Family Empowerment Scale - Cohesion (FES-C); Family Environment Scale - Family (FES-Family); and My Families Accessibilities and Community Engagement (MyFACE).
This project is about a co-designed intervention that is delivered by trained consumers.
Outcomes for mothers (N = 56) from T1-T4: HPAS increased (Δ = 8.90, 95% CI 6.70-11.10, P < 0.001); Psychological distress decreased, with lower DASS Depression (Δ = -3.16, 95% CI - 4.84 to -1.47, P < 0.001), Stress (Δ = -6.45, 95% CI - 8.67 to -4.24, P < 0.001), and Anxiety (Δ = -2.26, 95% CI - 3.88 to -0.65, P = 0.006). Improvements were observed for psychological wellbeing and vitality, and for family environment, while no significant changes were found for general health or attitudes to community accessibility (MyFACE). Mothers reported improved stress management, diet, physical activity, participation in leisure, and self-concept.
The HMHF package was effective in promoting positive and sustained mental health and wellbeing at 12-week follow-up. Increased engagement in health-promoting activities is indicative of effective inclusion of healthy habits in the daily routines of mothers who participated in the workshops. This online, group-based programme with occupational therapy foundations supported the health and empowerment of mothers who participated. Future development of similar programmes is recommended.

PMID:
42444092
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 14 Jul 2026.

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