University of Twente Student Theses
De effectiviteit van de online life-review interventie Op Verhaal Komen op depressieve klachten en emotionele eenzaamheid
Jonker, S.L. (2014) De effectiviteit van de online life-review interventie Op Verhaal Komen op depressieve klachten en emotionele eenzaamheid.
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| Abstract: | INTRODUCTION In this study, the efficacy of the online intervention “The Story of your Life” in reducing depressive symptoms and emotional loneliness was evaluated. The presence of mild to moderate depressive symptoms is a risk factor for developing a depressive disorder. Depressive symptoms and loneliness are closely linked. The Story of Your Life is an online life review therapy based on integrative reminiscence and narrative therapy and designed to decrease mild to moderate depressive symptoms. In previous studies, life review therapy was considered to be effective in decreasing depressive symptoms in older adults and the elderly. The main research question is: “Is The Story of Your Life effective in reducing depressive symptoms and emotional loneliness?” METHOD Fifty-eight participants over 40 with mild to moderate depressive symptoms were included in this study. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the CES-D scale, emotional loneliness by a subtest of the Eenzaamheidsschaal. The participants were at random assigned to three conditions: 1. The intervention complemented by individual counseling by e-mail, 2. The intervention complemented by access to an internet support group and 3. A waiting list condition in which the participants had access to care-as-usual. Measurements were taken at baseline, at three months (post-treatment and at six months follow-up. Analysis was done by performing multiple repeated measures ANOVAs. RESULTS There was a significant decrease in depressive symptoms between baseline and three months. However, the waiting list condition showed a significant decrease too. In depressive symptoms, there was a marginal significant difference between the individual e-mail counseling condition and the internet support group condition, depressive symptoms decreased slightly more in the first. There is no significant decrease in emotional loneliness. Correction of the influence of depressive symptoms did not change the results. CONCLUSION In previous research the intervention was found to be effective in decreasing depressive symptoms. In this study however, we cannot conclude that the intervention is more effective than the waiting list condition in decreasing depressive symptoms. The intervention is not effective in reducing emotional loneliness. Individual e-mail counseling seems to be a more effective addition to the intervention than an internet support group. There are two limitations in this study; the sample size was small and there are no data concerning the use of care-as-usual by the waiting list participants. Future research is recommended, investigating the intervention complemented by e-mail counseling and optional use of an internet support group might be considered. |
| 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/65718 |
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