The Acceptability and Initial Effectiveness of ?Space from Money Worries?: An Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Intervention to Tackle the Link Between Financial Difficulties and Poor Mental Health.
Citation:
Richardson, T., Enrique, A., Earley, C., Adegoke, A., Hiscock, D., Richards, D.,, The Acceptability and Initial Effectiveness of ?Space from Money Worries?: An Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Intervention to Tackle the Link Between Financial Difficulties and Poor Mental Health., Frontiers in Public Health., 2022Download Item:
Abstract:
Background: Previous research has shown a strong relationship between financial
difficulties and mental health problems. Psychological factors such as hope and worry
about finances appear to be an important factor in this relationship.
Objective: To develop an online based psychological intervention (Space from Money
Worries) to tackle the psychological mechanisms underlying the relationship between
poor mental health and financial difficulties, and to conduct an initial evaluation of the
acceptability and preliminary efficacy of the intervention.
Materials and Methods: 30 participants accessing Increasing Access to Psychological
Therapies (IAPT) services completed GAD-7 to measure anxiety and PHQ-9 to measure
depression upon signing up to the online intervention and again 4 to 8 weeks after this.
Participants also completed a measure of perceived financial distress/wellbeing and a
“Money and Mental Health Scale” constructed for the evaluation.
Results: Overall, 77% (n = 23) completed the intervention and follow-up assessments.
Intent to Treat Analysis showed that there were statistically significant improvements in
symptoms of depression, anxiety, improved perceived financial wellbeing and reduced
scores on the money and mental health scale. The vast majority of participants rated
each module positively.
Conclusions: Space from Money Worries appears to be acceptable and may lead to
improvements in mental health, perceived financial wellbeing and a reduced relationship
between financial difficulties and poor mental health. However, future research with a
larger sample and a control group are needed to confirm that these changes are due to
the intervention.
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/drichardDescription:
PUBLISHED
Author: Richards, Derek
Type of material:
Journal ArticleCollections
Series/Report no:
Frontiers in Public Health.Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
Online CB, Computer-based CBT, Mental health, Anxiety, Depression, Debt, Financial difficulties, PovertyDOI:
10.3389/fpubh.2022.739381Metadata
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