A Randomized Controlled Trial of Cognitive Behavioral Group Prevention Program for Mainland Chinese University Students in Hong Kong

In: Research on social work practice, Band 31, Heft 2, S. 180-193

Abstract

Purpose: This study developed a culturally appropriate cognitive behavioral group prevention program for Mainland Chinese university students in Hong Kong and tested its effectiveness. Method: A total of 74 Chinese students were recruited and randomly assigned to an 8-week cognitive behavior prevention program (experimental group) or a waiting list control (WLC) group. Results: Compared with the WLC group, participants in the experimental group significantly reduced psychological distress, acculturative stress, negative emotions, and negative thoughts and increased positive emotions, positive thoughts, and postmigration growth, with medium to large effect sizes. Upon immediate completion of the program, about 46% and 30% of the participants in the experimental group and WLC group, respectively, were classified as non-at-risk cases for developing mental health problems. Discussion: The positive intervention effects and clinical implication of cultural adaptation of cognitive behavioral group therapy to Chinese students are discussed.