Heavey, Amy (2021) Examining the Influence of Engagement on Outcome in Internet Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children with Anxiety. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Internet cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) programs aimed at reducing anxiety symptoms in children are credible and effective alternatives to therapist-assisted treatment. The lack of understanding in how participants engage in programs, and hence how their symptoms are reduced (outcome), limits their widespread dissemination. Previous research provides little insight into the unique mechanisms required to effectively understand engagement in ICBTs. This study investigated whether engagement within a program (BRAVE Self-Help) was related to reductions in self-reported anxiety symptoms of children. Based on a new theory of engagement, three concepts of program engagement were explored: usage (sessions completed), depth of usage (activities completed), and user experience (affect). It was hypothesised that all three forms of engagement would be positively related to improvements in anxiety over treatment. It was also expected that this effect would be moderated by gender, with this relationship between engagement and outcome being strongest for females. Participants were 4,164 Australian children who registered for the child (7-12 years) version of the BRAVE Self-Help program between 2014 and 2021. None of the hypotheses were supported, however post-hoc analyses demonstrated a significant curvilinear relationship between engagement concepts and outcome. Results demonstrate the complexity of conceptualising and operationalising engagement within ICBT interventions and highlight the importance of examining multiple concepts of usage and experience, to accurately capture how a user engages with the program. Findings of this study provide support for further investigation of engagement concepts in models of ICBT to guide development of programs to treat childhood anxiety.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Sonja March |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Jul 2025 00:48 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Jul 2025 00:48 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | child ; ICBT ; engagement ; self-help ; open-access |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52403 |
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