TY - JOUR
T1 - Brief-Guided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for People with Emotional Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic
AU - Young, Daniel Kim Wan
AU - Carlbring, Per
AU - Ng, Siu Man
AU - Cheng, Yi Ting Daphne
AU - Ng, Petrus Yat nam
AU - Chen, Qi-rong Joseph
AU - Tam, Cherry Hau Lin
AU - Yeung, Jerf Wai Keung
N1 - Open access publishing enabled by City University of Hong Kong Library's agreement with Springer Nature
Hong Kong Baptist University [Ref.: COP/2021/01].
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.
PY - 2025/2/11
Y1 - 2025/2/11
N2 - This pilot study aimed to investigate the acceptability and effectiveness of a brief-guided internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) for people with emotional distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a quasi-experimental research design with a 3-arm study, eligible participants were assigned to a group with student counsellors (n = 24), a group with counsellors (n = 23) or a non-active control group (n = 21). Participants received eight online modules and regular support via telephone counselling or video conferencing app (Zoom) from a counsellor or student counsellor during a 5-week intervention period, while the control group did not receive any intervention during the intervention period. An adherence rate of 85.10% was observed. The results of the 3 (group) × time (pre vs. post) repeated-measures analysis of covariance showed that the student counsellor and counsellor groups demonstrated significantly greater reductions in total emotional distress (partial η2 = 0.10) and stress (partial η2 = 0.14) than the control group. In addition, student counsellors and counsellors produced comparable intervention effects, and telephone counselling and Zoom support produced comparable intervention effects. This pilot study supports the acceptability and effectiveness of brief-guided iCBT for people with emotional distress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AB - This pilot study aimed to investigate the acceptability and effectiveness of a brief-guided internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) for people with emotional distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a quasi-experimental research design with a 3-arm study, eligible participants were assigned to a group with student counsellors (n = 24), a group with counsellors (n = 23) or a non-active control group (n = 21). Participants received eight online modules and regular support via telephone counselling or video conferencing app (Zoom) from a counsellor or student counsellor during a 5-week intervention period, while the control group did not receive any intervention during the intervention period. An adherence rate of 85.10% was observed. The results of the 3 (group) × time (pre vs. post) repeated-measures analysis of covariance showed that the student counsellor and counsellor groups demonstrated significantly greater reductions in total emotional distress (partial η2 = 0.10) and stress (partial η2 = 0.14) than the control group. In addition, student counsellors and counsellors produced comparable intervention effects, and telephone counselling and Zoom support produced comparable intervention effects. This pilot study supports the acceptability and effectiveness of brief-guided iCBT for people with emotional distress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
KW - Brief-guided internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
KW - Chinese
KW - COVID-19 Pandemic
KW - Emotional Distress
KW - Student Counsellors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85217748649&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10615-025-00990-1
DO - 10.1007/s10615-025-00990-1
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85217748649
SN - 0091-1674
JO - Clinical Social Work Journal
JF - Clinical Social Work Journal
ER -
