Parent Stress Intervention Program

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Parent Stress Intervention Pro
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The Parent Stress Intervention Program (PSIP) program is designed to help lower stress in parents of children with disabilities.

The Parent Stress Intervention Program (PSIP) was developed by staff and faculty at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, were used in the multi-year Parent/Child Stress Intervention Project piloted by Elisabeth Dykens, Ph.D., in 2010-2013.

Two hundred and fifty individuals participated in the study, learning ways to physically and cognitively reduce stress, either through the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) curriculum or Positive Adult Development (PAD) curriculum. Both programs proved beneficial to parents of children with disabilities, with participants experiencing lower levels of stress and anxiety, improved sleep, and a greater satisfaction with life.

Results from this study was recently reported in the journal Pediatrics. This study was also featured in several news media outlets including New York Times, Reuters Health, HealthDay News, Disability Scoop and Vanderbilt Research News. 

NEW: Curricula detailing the MBSR and PAD strategies are now available for licensing. Please visit the Licensing Options page for ordering.