COVID Feel Good: Evaluation of a Self-Help Protocol to Overcome the Psychological Burden of the COVID-19 Pandemic in a German Sample

The COVID-19 pandemic has severe consequences for physical as well as mental well-being. In times of restricted social contact, online self-help programs offer a low-threshold first aid to cope with the psychological burden. This current study evaluates the online self-help protocol "COVID Feel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of clinical medicine 2022-04, Vol.11 (8), p.2080
Main Authors: Meyer, Marie Lisa, Kaesler, Arne, Wolffgramm, Stefanie, Perić, Nicolina Laura, Bunjaku, Gentian, Dickmann, Lilith, Serino, Silvia, Di Lernia, Daniele, Tuena, Cosimo, Bernardelli, Luca, Pedroli, Elisa, Wiederhold, Brenda K, Riva, Giuseppe, Shiban, Youssef
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anxiety
Clinical medicine
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Emotions
Intervention
Mental depression
Mental health
Pandemics
Sample size
Self help
Social networks
Stress
Virtual reality
Well being
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Summary:The COVID-19 pandemic has severe consequences for physical as well as mental well-being. In times of restricted social contact, online self-help programs offer a low-threshold first aid to cope with the psychological burden. This current study evaluates the online self-help protocol "COVID Feel Good" in a German sample. The multicentric study was designed as a single cohort with a waiting list control condition. The convenience sample consisted of 38 German individuals who experienced at least two months of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 7-day self-help protocol included the VR video "Secret Garden" as well as a social or cognitive exercise each day. General distress, depression, anxiety, stress, and hopelessness were assessed as primary outcomes. Social connectedness and fear of coronavirus were measured as secondary outcomes. Results showed a significant decrease in all primary outcomes except for hopelessness. Furthermore, the results indicated a significant improvement in social connectedness. Treatment effects on general distress, depression, stress, and anxiety persisted for two weeks after participation. The present study indicates that VR-based self-help protocols can mitigate the psychological burden associated with the pandemic, supporting recent findings.
ISSN:2077-0383
2077-0383
DOI:10.3390/jcm11082080