Efficacy of Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Hong Kong University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Jia Yan Pan; Per Carlbring; Lucy Lu

doi:10.1177/10497315241252054

Efficacy of Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Hong Kong University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Jia Yan Pan^*
, Per Carlbring
, Lucy Lu

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the efficacy of a 10-week internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program “REST Online” for Hong Kong university students with mild to moderate levels of psychological distress.

Method: A total of 206 Hong Kong university students were randomized into: (1) web-based and (2) app-based iCBT, and (3) waitlist control (WLC) groups.

Results: Compared with the WLC group, the participants in the two iCBT groups showed a significant reduction in psychological distress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and negative thoughts and emotions, and significant increase in positive thoughts and emotions, with medium to large effect sizes. The positive effects were sustained at the 3-month follow-up test. No significant intervention effects were found between the two iCBT groups except for anxiety symptoms.

Discussion: The findings were discussed in terms of program design and service delivery, and suggestions for delivering digital mental health service in Hong Kong universities were proposed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	403-420
Number of pages	18
Journal	Research on Social Work Practice
Volume	35
Issue number	4
Early online date	7 May 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315241252054
Publication status	Published - May 2025

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This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

User-Defined Keywords

Chinese university students
internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy
Mental health

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10.1177/10497315241252054

Cite this

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title = "Efficacy of Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Hong Kong University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial",

abstract = "Purpose: This study examined the efficacy of a 10-week internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program “REST Online” for Hong Kong university students with mild to moderate levels of psychological distress.Method: A total of 206 Hong Kong university students were randomized into: (1) web-based and (2) app-based iCBT, and (3) waitlist control (WLC) groups.Results: Compared with the WLC group, the participants in the two iCBT groups showed a significant reduction in psychological distress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and negative thoughts and emotions, and significant increase in positive thoughts and emotions, with medium to large effect sizes. The positive effects were sustained at the 3-month follow-up test. No significant intervention effects were found between the two iCBT groups except for anxiety symptoms.Discussion: The findings were discussed in terms of program design and service delivery, and suggestions for delivering digital mental health service in Hong Kong universities were proposed.",

keywords = "Chinese university students, internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, Mental health",

author = "Pan, \{Jia Yan\} and Per Carlbring and Lucy Lu",

note = "Funding information: This study is ﬁnancially supported by the General Research Fund in Research Grants Council in Hong Kong (Project No.: HKBU 12606118). The authors would like to thank Miss Man Shan Veron CHAN for delivering the iCBT services and Miss Lucy Lu for conducting the intake interviews for this study. The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Research Grants Council in Hong Kong, (grant number HKBU 12606118). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024.",

year = "2025",

month = may,

doi = "10.1177/10497315241252054",

language = "English",

volume = "35",

pages = "403--420",

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T2 - A Randomized Controlled Trial

AU - Pan, Jia Yan

AU - Carlbring, Per

AU - Lu, Lucy

N1 - Funding information: This study is ﬁnancially supported by the General Research Fund in Research Grants Council in Hong Kong (Project No.: HKBU 12606118). The authors would like to thank Miss Man Shan Veron CHAN for delivering the iCBT services and Miss Lucy Lu for conducting the intake interviews for this study. The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Research Grants Council in Hong Kong, (grant number HKBU 12606118). Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.

PY - 2025/5

Y1 - 2025/5

N2 - Purpose: This study examined the efficacy of a 10-week internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program “REST Online” for Hong Kong university students with mild to moderate levels of psychological distress.Method: A total of 206 Hong Kong university students were randomized into: (1) web-based and (2) app-based iCBT, and (3) waitlist control (WLC) groups.Results: Compared with the WLC group, the participants in the two iCBT groups showed a significant reduction in psychological distress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and negative thoughts and emotions, and significant increase in positive thoughts and emotions, with medium to large effect sizes. The positive effects were sustained at the 3-month follow-up test. No significant intervention effects were found between the two iCBT groups except for anxiety symptoms.Discussion: The findings were discussed in terms of program design and service delivery, and suggestions for delivering digital mental health service in Hong Kong universities were proposed.

AB - Purpose: This study examined the efficacy of a 10-week internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program “REST Online” for Hong Kong university students with mild to moderate levels of psychological distress.Method: A total of 206 Hong Kong university students were randomized into: (1) web-based and (2) app-based iCBT, and (3) waitlist control (WLC) groups.Results: Compared with the WLC group, the participants in the two iCBT groups showed a significant reduction in psychological distress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and negative thoughts and emotions, and significant increase in positive thoughts and emotions, with medium to large effect sizes. The positive effects were sustained at the 3-month follow-up test. No significant intervention effects were found between the two iCBT groups except for anxiety symptoms.Discussion: The findings were discussed in terms of program design and service delivery, and suggestions for delivering digital mental health service in Hong Kong universities were proposed.

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ER -

Efficacy of Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Hong Kong University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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