The Acceptability and Initial Effectiveness of “Space From Money Worries”: An Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention to Tackle the Link Between Financial Difficulties and Poor Mental Health
BackgroundPrevious 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.ObjectiveTo develop an online based psychological intervention (Spa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.739381/full |
| _version_ | 1811309730869542912 |
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| author | Thomas Richardson Thomas Richardson Angel Enrique Angel Enrique Caroline Earley Adedeji Adegoke Douglas Hiscock Derek Richards Derek Richards |
| author_facet | Thomas Richardson Thomas Richardson Angel Enrique Angel Enrique Caroline Earley Adedeji Adegoke Douglas Hiscock Derek Richards Derek Richards |
| author_sort | Thomas Richardson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundPrevious 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.ObjectiveTo 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 Methods30 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.ResultsOverall, 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.ConclusionsSpace 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:47:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d704e9a03664b98b01319e88842934b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:47:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d704e9a03664b98b01319e88842934b2022-12-22T02:51:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652022-04-011010.3389/fpubh.2022.739381739381The Acceptability and Initial Effectiveness of “Space From Money Worries”: An Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention to Tackle the Link Between Financial Difficulties and Poor Mental HealthThomas Richardson0Thomas Richardson1Angel Enrique2Angel Enrique3Caroline Earley4Adedeji Adegoke5Douglas Hiscock6Derek Richards7Derek Richards8Richardson Psychological Consultation Limited, The Psychotherapy Practice, Southampton, United KingdomClinical Research & Innovation, SilverCloud Health, Dublin, IrelandClinical Research & Innovation, SilverCloud Health, Dublin, IrelandE-Mental Health Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandClinical Research & Innovation, SilverCloud Health, Dublin, IrelandClinical Research & Innovation, SilverCloud Health, Dublin, IrelandClinical Research & Innovation, SilverCloud Health, Dublin, IrelandClinical Research & Innovation, SilverCloud Health, Dublin, IrelandE-Mental Health Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandBackgroundPrevious 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.ObjectiveTo 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 Methods30 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.ResultsOverall, 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.ConclusionsSpace 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.739381/fulldebtfinancial difficultiespovertydepressionanxietymental health |
| spellingShingle | Thomas Richardson Thomas Richardson Angel Enrique Angel Enrique Caroline Earley Adedeji Adegoke Douglas Hiscock Derek Richards Derek Richards The Acceptability and Initial Effectiveness of “Space From Money Worries”: An Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention to Tackle the Link Between Financial Difficulties and Poor Mental Health Frontiers in Public Health debt financial difficulties poverty depression anxiety mental health |
| title | The Acceptability and Initial Effectiveness of “Space From Money Worries”: An Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention to Tackle the Link Between Financial Difficulties and Poor Mental Health |
| title_full | The Acceptability and Initial Effectiveness of “Space From Money Worries”: An Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention to Tackle the Link Between Financial Difficulties and Poor Mental Health |
| title_fullStr | The Acceptability and Initial Effectiveness of “Space From Money Worries”: An Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention to Tackle the Link Between Financial Difficulties and Poor Mental Health |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Acceptability and Initial Effectiveness of “Space From Money Worries”: An Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention to Tackle the Link Between Financial Difficulties and Poor Mental Health |
| title_short | The Acceptability and Initial Effectiveness of “Space From Money Worries”: An Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention to Tackle the Link Between Financial Difficulties and Poor Mental Health |
| title_sort | acceptability and initial effectiveness of space from money worries an online cognitive behavioral therapy intervention to tackle the link between financial difficulties and poor mental health |
| topic | debt financial difficulties poverty depression anxiety mental health |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.739381/full |
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