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The efficacy of cognitive-behavioural group therapy for loneliness via inter-relay-chat among people with physical disabilities

This study examines the efficacy of psychotherapeutic services via computer-mediated communication (CMC). Its main purpose is to determine if goal-oriented cognitive-behavioural group teletherapy via IRC can reduce feelings of loneliness among chronically lonely people with physical disabilities. Using a comparison design with pretest, post-test, follow-up and waiting-list control, 19 participants formed seven groups of 2–3 people. Participants completed an in-person individual assessment during which individualized therapeutic goals were enumerated. They also attended twelve 2-hour group intervention sessions via inter-relay-chat (IRC). Results indicate that participants felt less lonely after intervention. Moreover, participants who completed intervention felt less lonely at post-test than a similar group that had been placed in a waiting-list control. Furthermore, results indicate that gains were maintained at a 4-month follow-up. The results of this study are discussed, along with participants' comments about the intervention, its practical implications and some special considerations for teletherapy, as well as future directions for research.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LAVAL/oai:corpus.ulaval.ca:20.500.11794/44176
Date08 April 2021
CreatorsHopps, Sandra
ContributorsPépin, Michel
Source SetsUniversité Laval
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typethèse de doctorat, COAR1_1::Texte::Thèse::Thèse de doctorat
Formatxxii, 295 feuillets, application/pdf
Rightshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2

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