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Hoop op verbetering door hoopgevend schrijven: Een kwalitatief onderzoek naar leeftijdsverschillen in betekenisverlening aan twee zelfhulpcursussen met e-mailbegeleiding

Blässe, T.I. (2012) Hoop op verbetering door hoopgevend schrijven: Een kwalitatief onderzoek naar leeftijdsverschillen in betekenisverlening aan twee zelfhulpcursussen met e-mailbegeleiding.

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Abstract:Depressions are a health issue that often occurs. To prevent (serious) depressions self-help courses are mostly offered only to people of 55 years and older. However, it is interesting whether a younger age group will also have a use of these courses. The present study investigated the perspectives of participants with regard to two courses to self-help. The participants attended either the course ‘Op verhaal komen’ or ‘Expressief schrijven’ including e-mail assistance. Therefore, 86 participants between 40 and 79 years with mild to moderate depressive symptoms were contacted. The results were collected by open online questions. The questions pointed to the moment prior to the course and the moment afterwards. First, questions dealt with the motivation to participate to the course. Second, participants evaluated the course. The content analysis of the answers showed that, prior to the course, adults between 40 and 54 years were concentrated on different sort of questions concerning life than adults between 55 en 79 years. Adults between 40 and 54 years dealt more with questions about the meaning of life than adults between 55 and 79 years. In contrast, adults between 55 and 79 years are more concentrated on relationships and on their emotional well-being. However, both age groups had similar motivations prior to the self-help course, namely hope for improvement of their individual well-being and their situation of life. Throughout the course, adults pass through a process of attaining consciousness of one´s own person and experiences. Adults got insight into their own feelings, thoughts and behavior. These insights had an influence on their current situation. This was one reason that adults of both age groups evaluated the self-help course as positive. Mainly adults between 40 and 54 years experienced an improvement in mood and greater autonomy after the course. After the course, adults between 55 and 79 years were able to handle life experiences better. The qualitative approach of this study extends existing literature and practical applications about the target group for preventive self-help courses. This study shows that not only adults older than 55 years but also adults between 40 and 54 years benefit from the self-help course with e-mail assistance. Furthermore, it has been found that hope for improvement is an important factor to decide for the participation in a self-help course including e-mail assistance.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology MSc (66604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/63184
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