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.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LAVAL/oai:corpus.ulaval.ca:20.500.11794/44176 |
| Date | 08 April 2021 |
| Creators | Hopps, Sandra |
| Contributors | Pépin, Michel |
| Source Sets | Université Laval |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thèse de doctorat, COAR1_1::Texte::Thèse::Thèse de doctorat |
| Format | xxii, 295 feuillets, application/pdf |
| Rights | http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2 |
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