Background Anxiety and depression are common among university students, and university counseling centers are under pressure to develop effective, novel, and sustainable interventions that engage and retain students. Group interventions delivered via the internet could be a novel and effective way to promote student mental health. Objective We conducted a pragmatic open trial to investigate the uptake, retention, treatment response, and level of satisfaction with a remote group cognitive behavioral therapy intervention designed to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression delivered on the web to university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Preintervention and postintervention self-reported data on anxiety and depression were collected using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Satisfaction was assessed postintervention using the Client Satisfaction with Treatment Questionnaire. Results A total of 175 students were enrolled, 158 (90.3%) of whom initiated treatment. Among those initiating treatment, 86.1% (135/158) identified as female, and the mean age was 22.4 (SD 4.9) years. The mean number of sessions attended was 6.4 (SD 2.8) out of 10. Among participants with clinically significant symptoms at baseline, mean symptom scores decreased significantly for anxiety (t56=11.6; P<.001), depression (t61=7.8; P<.001), and composite anxiety and depression (t60=10.7; P<.001), with large effect sizes (d=1-1.5). Remission rates among participants with clinically significant baseline symptoms were 67.7%-78.9% and were not associated with baseline symptom severity. High overall levels of satisfaction with treatment were reported. Conclusions The results of this study serve as a proof of concept for the use of web-based group cognitive behavioral therapy to promote the mental health of university students.
We explored the promotion of active citizenship through reports of engagement in a rural community program in the Western Cape. Students enrolled in a community psychology postgraduate course participated in this project, during which they made use of reflective journaling to record their individual processes. We used thematic analysis to explore the themes within these journals. Through engagement with the community, students were able to acknowledge and reflect on significant differences between learning in the classroom and in the community. They were also able to identify the qualities needed to work effectively within communities, and began to consider the ideas of active citizenship and community involvement. Eleven students were able to unite on this project, developing both as individuals and psychology students, through their shared experiences. Common themes of questioning existing structures and resource availability are discussed.
Objective:The purpose of this study was to describe the well-being of a sample of families from low socioeconomic communities in the Western Cape South Africa in terms of family resilience, family satisfaction, parenting styles, family structure and family functioning.Methods: The study used a descriptive survey design and sampled 358 adult family members. Results:The results indicate that although family functioning is challenged, parents are perceived to be using an authoritative parenting style and having a father present enhances family satisfaction. The results also describe families as displaying low-to-average levels of family resilience. Conclusion:This study provides a descriptive study of a sample of families in the Western Cape, South Africa. Overall the families in this study are not doing very well. The implications and significance of these findings are further explained.
BackgroundAlthough there has been an exponential growth in hookah use on a global scale, research within the context of South Africa is very limited. While hookah use is known internationally to be a health and addiction risk, the focus is on university students and not on families.AimThis study aims to compare the family functioning and family satisfaction among hookah users and non-users.SettingThis study was conducted in low or middle-high class socio-economic status areas of Cape Town, South Africa.MethodsA quantitative method was employed to test for significant differences with a sample of 1193 participants, in which each participant represented a family. An independent t-test was used to test for significant differences between hookah users and non-users.ResultsOne-third (34%) of the participants indicated that they smoked hookah pipe, with the general age of onset being 16.5 years. In trying to understand the family context, it was found that 28% of hookah users indicated that the hookah pipe was used as a means of socialising with others in the family, and 24% of parents indicated that they were more accepting of family members smoking the hookah pipe. Findings also suggest that families of hookah users have less cohesion, expressiveness and family satisfaction, and more conflict and permissiveness than families of non-users.ConclusionThis study provides and extends knowledge regarding the family in hookah pipe use. This information could assist in reducing hookah pipe use, and building healthier and more resilient communities by formulating prevention and intervention strategies to reduce hookah use
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