An evaluation of the choices for well-being project

Abstract

This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link An evaluation of the Choices for Wellbeing ProjectThe relationship between mental health, self-esteem and unemployment is well established.Emerging research suggests that interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)can counter the negative effects of unemployment and may improve re-employment. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a manual-based programme, which combines CBT with job skills training, in improving the psychological health and job seeking skills of unemployed individuals within the UK. One hundred and nine unemployed individuals, suffering mild to moderate mental health problems, were referred to the programme. Of these, 47 completed the programme and 32 attended follow-up. The impact of the manualised course was evaluated using a randomised control trial (RCT) with a waiting list control. On completion of the programme, participants showed improvements in mental health, selfesteem and job-search self-efficacy as well as a reduction in the occurrence of negative automatic thoughts. Twenty participants gained employment and improvements persisted at follow-up. Considering the initial levels of psychological distress and mental health problems among the unemployed sample, the need for adequate service provision for the unemployed is recommended.

EEPIC - Enhancing Employability through Positive Interventions for improving Career potential: the impact of a high support career guidance intervention on the wellbeing, hopefulness, self-efficacy and employability of the long-term unemployed - a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

“…A power analysis was conducted using the primary outcome measure of overall psychological wellbeing (GHQ-12) in order to identify the minimum sample size required to detect an increase in wellbeing post intervention. As already indicated, the Pathways to Work activation model is a recently implemented approach and so no previous evaluations or comparable studies have been undertaken, although similar studies had been conducted in Sweden [ 51 ], France [ 52 ], Australia [ 6 ] the UK [ 41 , 42 ] Finland [ 72 ] and the USA [ 53 , 73 ]. Analysis of these studies indicate varying sample sizes ( n = 16–1200); thus, to ensure the minimum sample size is achieved and the study is powerful enough to detect significant differences between the groups, a power analysis was performed to establish a realistic estimate based on the primary outcome measure.…”

“…Interventions targeted at an individual’s needs, such as training and counselling, have been shown to have positive effects on wellbeing [ 38 – 40 ]. Similarly, evaluations of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)-based employment programmes such as the ‘CHOICES for Well-being’ project [ 41 ] showed improvements in the mental health, self-esteem and job-search self-efficacy of participants, as well as a reduction in the occurrence of negative automatic thoughts and employment progression for some participants. Improvements also persisted at three-month follow-up.…”

The relationship between emotion regulation strategies and job search behavior among fourth‐year university students☆

“…However, no programs have been administered from a psychological perspective in China, although such interventions are both important and effective. For example, in the United Kingdom, the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program, which aims to address the mental health problems that underpin unemployment, was effective with regard to increased reemployment (Maguire, Hughes, Bell, Bogosian, & Hepworth, 2014). According to Liu et al (2014), motivation enhancement and stress management are important perspectives to include in job search interventions.…”

Effektivität von kognitiver Verhaltenstherapie bei arbeitslosen und erwerbstätigen Patienten mit prävalenten psychischen Störungen – Eine naturalistische Studie

“…Obwohl Arbeitslosigkeit Leiden verursachen und die Lebensführung von Betroffenen beeinträchtigen kann, gibt es nur wenig Forschung über die Behandlung von Arbeitslosen mit psychischen Störungen [10,11]. In einigen Studien konnte gezeigt werden, dass kognitiv-behaviorale Techniken und arbeitsfokussierte Interventionen in Gruppentrainings mit nichtklinischen Stichproben zu einer Verbesserung der psychischen Beschwerden von arbeitslosen Menschen führten [12,13]. In einer randomisierten kontrollierten Studie [14] wurde untersucht, inwieweit sich kognitive Verhaltenstherapie (KVT) und antidepressive Medikation auf den Erwerbsstatus von 141 Patienten (n = 24 waren zu Beginn arbeitslos) auswirken [15].…”