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
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
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.
anxiety, computer-based CBT, debt, depression, financial difficulties, mental health, online CBT, poverty
Richardson, Thomas
f8d84122-b061-4322-a594-5ef2eb5cad0d
14 April 2022
Richardson, Thomas
f8d84122-b061-4322-a594-5ef2eb5cad0d
Richardson, Thomas
(2022)
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, 10, [739381].
(doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.739381).
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.
Text
fpubh-10-739381
- Version of Record
Text
Richardson et al (2022)- Space from Money Worries initial evaluation
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 8 March 2022
Published date: 14 April 2022
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
Thank you to all the service users who took part in the evaluation. Thank you also to the PWPs from Berkshire IAPT services who provided feedback on earlier version of the software.
Funding Information:
This study was funded by SilverCloud Health and has been possible thanks to the partnership with Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (England). The funder was not involved in study design or data collection, but provided advise in the analysis, preparation of the manuscript and the decision to submit it for publication. TR has received consultancy payments from SilverCloud Health for the development and evaluation of the Space from Money Worries program. He also receives royalties from its use.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Richardson, Enrique, Earley, Adegoke, Hiscock and Richards.
Keywords:
anxiety, computer-based CBT, debt, depression, financial difficulties, mental health, online CBT, poverty
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 457002
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/457002
ISSN: 2296-2565
PURE UUID: b35a6351-e4ea-43ae-bdbf-266e64c21bfa
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 19 May 2022 16:40
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:02
Export record
Altmetrics
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
