New Publication: Online ACT Training Program Outcomes for IDD Support Staff
LOL Lab Director Albert Malkin recently co-authored a new publication on supporting the well-being of staff who work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
This manuscript was authored by Kristina Axenova, a PhD student at York University and a graduate from Western University’s Counselling Psychology program. Fun fact: Kristina was the first thesis student Albert supervised in the lab, who penned the name LOL along with Albert.
Working in IDD support can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s also emotionally demanding. Staff often face high levels of stress and burnout, which can affect both their health and the quality of care they provide. To address this, the team developed a brief, online, self-guided Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACTr) program designed to help staff manage stress and stay connected to what matters most in their work. ACTr teaches participants to accept what they can’t control, focus on their values, and take meaningful action, in the moment, even in challenging situations.
In their study, 11 IDD support staff completed three short online modules. The results were promising; participants reported significant reductions in emotional exhaustion, moderate improvements in taking meaningful action, and better overall engagement with their work. Staff also praised the program’s ease of use, practical relevance, and attention to diversity, noting that it addressed real challenges they face on the job.
While this was a small pilot study, the findings suggest that ACTr could be a flexible, accessible tool for helping IDD support staff maintain their well-being. Larger studies are planned to further explore its impact, offering hope for sustainable support in a demanding but vital field.
Read the full publication in the Journal of Organizational Behaviour Management here: https://doi.org/10.1080/01608061.2025.2609552
Congrats to Albert, Kristina and their team for their hard work and meaningful contribution to the literature!
Reference:
Axenova, K., Malkin, A., & Thomson, K. (2026). The feasibility of online self-guided acceptance and commitment therapy training for intellectual and developmental disability support staff: A pilot investigation. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/01608061.2025.2609552
