A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
Brief online ACT intervention to improve adolescents’ well-being : Effectiveness among adolescents with depressive symptoms during COVID-19 (2024)

Keinonen, K., Lappalainen, P., Puolakanaho, A., Kaipainen, K., Lappalainen, R., & Kiuru, N. (2024). Brief online ACT intervention to improve adolescents’ well-being : Effectiveness among adolescents with depressive symptoms during COVID-19. Children and Youth Services Review, 161, Article 107671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107671

JYU-tekijät tai -toimittajat

Keinonen, Katariina
Lappalainen, Päivi
Puolakanaho, Anne
Lappalainen, Raimo
Kiuru, Noona

Julkaisun tiedot

Julkaisun kaikki tekijät tai toimittajat: Keinonen, K.; Lappalainen, P.; Puolakanaho, A.; Kaipainen, K.; Lappalainen, R.; Kiuru, N.

Lehti tai sarja: Children and Youth Services Review

ISSN: 0190-7409

eISSN: 1873-7765

Julkaisuvuosi: 2024

Ilmestymispäivä: 11.05.2024

Volyymi: 161

Artikkelinumero: 107671

Kustantaja: Elsevier

Julkaisumaa: Britannia

Julkaisun kieli: englanti

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107671

Julkaisun avoin saatavuus: Avoimesti saatavilla

Julkaisukanavan avoin saatavuus: Osittain avoin julkaisukanava

Julkaisu on rinnakkaistallennettu (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/95158

Tiivistelmä

Background: The mental health and well-being of children and adolescents declined globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Young people need support, yet relatively few receive psychological help, even among those who experience psychological symptoms. The existing options for support that focus on the traditional one-on-one treatment delivery approach require alternatives that can be widely disseminated. Purpose: The current study examined the effectiveness of a brief acceptance- and values-based online intervention for alleviating symptoms
of stress, anxiety and depression and for improving psychological flexibility among adolescents who experience depressive symptoms.

Methods: A total of 43 adolescents reporting elevated levels of depression symptoms who were selected from a total of 348 adolescents were randomized to receive a five-week intervention with support from a coach and/or virtual coach or to participate in the treatment-as-usual control condition.

Results: The results suggest that the online intervention alleviated symptoms of depression and anxiety, while adolescents who received only the usual support from their schools reported increasing symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic (Cohen’s d = 0.70 and d = 0.66, respectively).

Conclusions: The online intervention is a promising alternative to respond to the increased need for support among young people who experience ill-being. Technology-based approaches can increase the reach of evidence-based psychological support while also offering an acceptable and motivating approach to young people who may not actively seek traditional face-to-face treatment. The current results support the inclusion of online support in the services provided to young people facing mental health problems.

YSO-asiasanat: hyväksymis- ja omistautumisterapia; nuoret; nuorisopsykologia; telelääketiede; COVID-19; masennus; interventio; henkinen hyvinvointi