Greetings from Dublin!

One of our FindLab alumni, Dr Jane Goodwin, has recently presented her PhD research at the 22q11 Europe 2nd Alliance Meeting at Trinity College, Dublin. Here is her account of the exciting experience:
 'On 7th October 2017, I presented my PhD research at the 22q11 Europe 2nd Alliance Meeting at Trinity College, Dublin. I focused on the positive psychological aspect of the experience of raising a child with 22q11. I spoke about a survey of parents of children with developmental disability. Our research found that:

• Communication between professionals in healthcare services is important for parents’ psychological health
• Health professionals should provide realistic expectations for parents, both positive and negative
• There is a need to bridge the gap between parents’ ideal and actual social support
• Interventions to promote specific adaptive coping mechanisms may be useful to promote parental psychological well-being

I also spoke about interviews that were conducted with parents who have a child with 22q11. We found that:

• The 22q11 diagnosis can be both positive and negative
• Parents felt stigma from healthcare services that invalidated them on their search for a diagnosis
• Parents of a child with 22q11 simultaneously experience conflicting negative and positive emotions
• Working to find meaning in their challenges allowed parents to experience psychological growth despite distress

It was wonderful to catch up with Anne Lawlor (Chairperson of 22q11 Ireland Support Group), who has been so supportive of FINDLab research. It was also great to meet other researchers and families living with 22q11. It was particularly inspiring to hear from the 22q Young Experts by Experience Panel, who shared the highs and lows of living with 22q11'.

You can find Jane's slides from the presentation here.