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Academic burnout is a condition characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, a distant attitude toward studying, and diminished self-efficacy in academic activities. Preliminary scientific findings indicate that interventions designed to alleviate work burnout also hold promise for mitigating academic burnout, however clear evidence based on randomized controlled trials is still missing. This research protocol describes a randomized controlled trial aimed at evaluating the efficacy of an online group psychological intervention to contrast academic burnout. Participants with high levels of burnout will be assigned to a psychological counseling group or a waiting list control group. The research comprises several phases: (T0) Screening, Recruitment, and Randomization; (T1) Baseline assessment (pre-intervention); (T2) Outcome Assessment (post-intervention); and (T3) Follow-up Assessment (3 months post-intervention). The primary outcomes include burnout symptoms, general wellbeing, and academic achievement. Additionally, secondary variables such as e [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Online Psycho-Oncology Counseling (OPC) in reducing distress levels among cancer patients. Methods: The research employs a paired sample t-test analysis to compare distress scores before and after the intervention. The study includes 30 solid tumor patients aged 30-59, undergoing cancer treatment. Distress levels were measured using the Distress Thermometer before and after the OPC intervention. Paired distress scores were computed for each participant, and a paired sample t-test was conducted to assess the statistical significance of the observed changes. Result: A statistically significant reduction in distress scores post-OPC intervention (t-value = 3.657, df = 29, p < 0.05) was observed. The mean distress score decreased from 5.67 ± 1.093 before OPC to 4.77 ± 1.675 after OPC. Importantly, 26.6% of participants shifted from high to low distress levels. The findings suggest that the Online Psycho-Oncology Intervention is effective in alleviating distress among cancer patients. The paired sample t-test provides robust statistical evidence supporting the positive impact of OPC on psychological well-being. Additionally, semi structured interview schedule was followed to explore the feasibility and satisfaction of the OPC program. Likert scale and thematic analysis was followed to analyze the qualitative data. Conclusion: Further research with larger cohorts and extended follow-up periods is recommended to enhance the understanding of the long-term effectiveness of psycho-oncology interventions in the digital realm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing use of e-counseling in various institutions in Malaysia has called for more e-counselors with high self-efficacy to carry out ecounseling responsibilities. However, current studies in Malaysia lack empirical data on counseling self-efficacy among this population. Hence, this study identified the influence of e-counseling skills, ethics, and limitations on counseling self-efficacy among e-counselors in Malaysia. A correlational study design was employed, where 233 e-counselors in Malaysia were selected using a simple random sampling procedure. Through emails, the respondents were given an access link to an online questionnaire. The inferential analysis using Pearson correlation reported a positive correlation between e-counseling skills and counseling selfefficacy, as well as between e-counseling ethics and counseling selfefficacy. e-Counseling limitations reported a negative correlation with counseling self-efficacy. A multiple regression analysis was also conducted, and e-counseling skills was found to be the best predictor of counseling self-efficacy, followed by e-counseling limitations. The findings from this study are pertinent to support research that investigates e-counseling in the Malaysian context. It also provides suggestions for professional counseling associations, counseling program providers, and counseling educators to improve the higher education training and delivery of e-counseling services in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children and youth from lower subjective socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds are at a heightened risk of mental disorders. Online counseling is a valuable tool to reach those less likely to seek professional help, but its success across different SES backgrounds remains unclear. This study explores the association between subjective SES and online counseling outcomes. Children and youth (N = 2139) between 10 and 24 years-of-age received chat-based online counseling and reported on SES, negative feelings before and after the chat, and perceived helpfulness of the chat via an online assessment tool. The results of a latent change score model showed a significant association between SES and negative feelings before chatting, indicating that lower SES predicted more negative feelings (r = −0.26, p

Academic burnout is a condition characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, a distant attitude toward studying, and diminished self-efficacy in academic activities. Preliminary scientific findings indicate that interventions designed to alleviate work burnout also hold promise for mitigating academic burnout, however clear evidence based on randomized controlled trials is still missing. This research protocol describes a randomized controlled trial aimed at evaluating the efficacy of an online group psychological intervention to contrast academic burnout. Participants with high levels of burnout will be assigned to a psychological counseling group or a waiting list control group. The research comprises several phases: (T0) Screening, Recruitment, and Randomization; (T1) Baseline assessment (pre-intervention); (T2) Outcome Assessment (post-intervention); and (T3) Follow-up Assessment (3 months post-intervention). The primary outcomes include burnout symptoms, general wellbeing, and academic achievement. Additionally, secondary variables such as effort-reward imbalances, satisfaction/frustration of basic psychological needs, intrapersonal and interpersonal emotion regulation, coping strategies, and social support will be examined. The psychological intervention strategies will encompass psychoeducation, self-awareness enhancement, cognitive restructuring, and promotion of social support. This research protocol is an initial step toward evidence-based psychological interventions to treat academic burnout.

This study aimed to reflect on mental health professionals' experiences with online counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their perceptions and recommendations for the future. The method of qualitative research with semi-structured interviews was used. The sample consisted of 17 mental health professionals working in the public or private sectors. A framework analysis revealed four main themes, namely (a) the evaluation of online counseling; (b) comparing in-person and online counseling; (c) factors influencing the effectiveness of online counseling; and (d) suggestions for the future use of online counseling. Most therapists reported that their overall experience with online counseling was positive. The main advantages cited were the accessibility for everyone and the reductions in time, money, and distance. Its primary drawbacks included less nonverbal communication, the inability to employ certain therapeutic tools, problems with confidentiality, lack of experience, and technical difficulties during online sessions. Its effectiveness depends on contextual factors and factors related to the therapeutic process itself. Organizational planning, training, and a solid implementation strategy may help ensure that this communication medium is used to its fullest potential. In addition, the possible utilization of remote counseling combined with in-person psychotherapeutic intervention methods will provide solutions for the future, especially in crisis situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The rapid growth of online counseling (OC) services for mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted concerns regarding its effectiveness compared to in-person counseling. Psychologists have expressed uncertainties about OC's efficacy and doubts about their competence in using it. As a result, psychologists have been hesitant to embrace OC methods and supporting technologies. Therefore, it has become crucial to study the factors that influence the acceptance and use of OC technology, enabling psychologists to develop the necessary skills and confidence to utilize inpatient treatment effectively. This study used quantitative research with survey research to study factors influencing 406 Thai counselors' use and acceptance of technology in online counseling, and the model was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results showed that IOC are positively influenced by SI (β= .413, p

Sixteen participants were selected for this study. Eight engaged in an 8-week online counseling program (Online Group) that involved two 30-minute sessions per week, while the remaining 8 athletes formed the Control Group (CG) and continued their regular practice routines without counseling. The data were collected before their first real match (M1) and again before their second real match (M2). The study focused on evaluating cognitive reappraisal skills and physiological responses related to emotions, including heart rate, blood pressure, and neurological signals. Comparing the Online Group to the Control Group, the results revealed no statistically significant differences in cognitive reappraisal skills, diastolic blood pressure, beta wave activity, and alpha wave activity. However, the Online Group did demonstrate significantly lower diastolic blood pressure and heart rate at a significance level of 0.05. These initial findings suggest that online sport counseling did not lead to improvement in cognitive reappraisal skills but did have a notable impact on reducing diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. Thus, the intervention may influence the athletes' responses during moments of acute stress but may not affect the specific skills they employ during intense real matches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have demonstrated the importance of online activities to wellbeing, especially in later life. The present study seeks to determine whether and how online religious counseling can improve the wellbeing of older believers. A six-month qualitative study was conducted with a group of Orthodox Jewish older adults (N = 26, aged 70-96) who manifest various types of age-related distress. The participants were home trained to use a dedicated, accessible online platform featuring religious questions and answers (Q&A). Data were collected through netnographic observation, monthly online inquiry and in-depth interviews with counselees and counselors alike. Analysis indicated that online spiritual Q&A for the elders are characterized by unique content, types and styles of discourse. Their variety reflects the heterogeneity of needs, areas of interest and worldviews among older religious adults. Participation in online religious counseling provided them with numerous religious, intellectual and social rewards. At the same time, their counselors—six rabbis that volunteered in this project—gained religious, communal, professional and psychological benefits from the opportunity to share their knowledge and advice. Anonymity, asynchronicity, digital literacy and types of questions were identified as issues that may have opposite effects on the experiences of participants and counselors, respectively. Although some factors may delay and/or diminish positive contributions, involvement in online religious counseling appears to promote wellbeing in later life. This service is particularly beneficial to Orthodox older adults with detrimental health conditions whose use of online religious Q&A helps them cope with the difficulties they face and maintain their enjoyment of life.

Abstract Background Breast cancer, as the most prevalent malignancy among women globally and in Iran, affects important aspects of the lives of the survivors of this condition, especially the quality of sexual life. Solution-focused brief therapy is one of the therapeutic counseling approaches used in various fields, including sexual function problems. In recent years, online and internet-mediated counseling methods have received more attention. Objective This study investigated the effect of online counseling based on a solution-focused approach in improving the sexual quality of life (SQL) of women with breast cancer. Materials & methods In this clinical trial, the research population consisted of women with a history of breast cancer with a recorded file in Shahid Ramazanzadeh Radiation Oncology Center in Yazd and at least 6 months had elapsed since the end of their treatment. After selecting 80 samples based on the random numbers table, they were assigned into two groups of 40, i.e., active control and intervention, using random allocation software. Participants in the intervention group were given online counseling through the Skyroom space with a solution-focused approach. Eight weekly sessions were held each lasting 60–90 min. The active control group received an educational file to improve the SQL. All participants in two groups completed the SQL questionnaire at the beginning of the study, at the end of the study, and 1 month after the study. Data were analyzed with SPSS18 using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results Finally, the data of 33 participants in the intervention group and 32 participants in the active control group were analyzed. The mean score of the SQL in the intervention group increased from 68.57 ± 18.63 before the intervention to 78.84 ± 12.7 immediately after the intervention (P = 0.015), and to 79.60 ± 19.88 1 month after the intervention (P = 0.012). The mean score of the SQL in the active control group increased from 64.45 ± 22.76 before the intervention to 67.20 ± 20.29 immediately after the intervention (P = 0.33), and to 68.70 ± 20.76 1 month after the intervention (P = 0.62). The difference in the mean score of the SQL before and after the intervention between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.007). Conclusion It seems that the use of counseling with a solution-focused approach in women with a history of breast cancer improves the SQL. Thus, considering the effectiveness of this type of training, it is recommended that this method be used as a sexual health counseling method in medical centers. Trial registration This clinical trial is registered in Iranian registry center of clinical trials (IRCT) by registration code of IRCT20201221049784N1 in 06/03/2021.

The article discusses self-regulatory resources that can be used when working with clients of a psychological support service. The present study sought to examine the characteristics of self-regulatory resources in clients of an online psychological support service (Tomsk State University). The sample was collected using online measures from the clients who at that moment were solving their problems or had already solved them. To analyze self-regulatory resources we diagnosed the style of self-regulation, coping behavior, tolerance for uncertainty, basic assumptions of an individual and studied text messages from the clients. The correlation and cluster analysis revealed numerous correlations of self- regulation and other resources. It allowed us to identify groups of clients with dominant typological relationships between the self-regulatory features, strategies for coping with stress, ambiguity tolerance, and primary assumptions. We discussed the results, taking into account the current level of self-regulatory activity and personal resources.

Effective and efficient counseling service interventions are the goal of every counselor in providing psychological assistance to adolescents. This study aims at describing the Muslim counselors' experience in implementing single-session online counseling services focusing on solutions for adolescents. Before the researchers conducted this study, first of all, they were preparing instruments, and a list of questions, as an interview guide for data collection. After the data collection process, the researchers analyzed and interpreted the data. Data were analyzed using a qualitative approach through thematic analysis. The data were then classified into three sub-themes; Namely creating a safe and comfortable online counseling relationship, basic communication skills in online counseling, and time management in online counseling. The results show that relationship building in online counseling services requires counselors' acceptance, strategy, and self-disclosure. During the online counseling process, counselors need to apply basic counseling skills and specific techniques in solution-focused single-session counseling strategies. They are scaling questions, miracle questions, and exception questions. Time management in the implementation of online counseling is also a challenge for counselors. Flexible time needs to be managed properly so as not to hinder the counseling process.

Introduction: Care and attention to people's health is an objective of professionals in this area. Comprehensive strategies are being sought to reduce the alarming prevalence of obesity in populations around the world, coupled with the restructuring of the health system that came as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, different tools, such as online nutrition counseling, have been incorporated to embrace the needs and provide a service in favor of the population. Objective: To evaluate the effect of online nutrition counseling on anthropometric parameters of overweight and obese adults. Methodology: Thirty individuals were enrolled in an online nutritional intervention and followed a weight control diet for 8 weeks. Every 15 days, the participants received nutritional counseling through virtual platforms. Anthropometric parameters were evaluated at the beginning, middle and end of the intervention, the physical activity performed by the participants was calculated, and an emotional eating questionnaire was applied. Results: Significant changes were observed in baseline versus final anthropometric parameters. 30% of participants reported an increase in the physical activity performed, and 31% indicated improvements in the influence of emotions on their eating habits. Conclusion: Online nutrition counseling is a feasible and reliable strategy to provide and receive nutritional care remotely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to reflect on mental health professionals’ experiences with online counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their perceptions and recommendations for the future. The method of qualitative research with semi-structured interviews was used. The sample consisted of 17 mental health professionals working in the public or private sectors. A framework analysis revealed four main themes, namely (a) the evaluation of online counseling; (b) comparing in-person and online counseling; (c) factors influencing the effectiveness of online counseling; and (d) suggestions for the future use of online counseling. Most therapists reported that their overall experience with online counseling was positive. The main advantages cited were the accessibility for everyone and the reductions in time, money, and distance. Its primary drawbacks included less nonverbal communication, the inability to employ certain therapeutic tools, problems with confidentiality, lack of experience, and technical difficulties during online sessions. Its effectiveness depends on contextual factors and factors related to the therapeutic process itself. Organizational planning, training, and a solid implementation strategy may help ensure that this communication medium is used to its fullest potential. In addition, the possible utilization of remote counseling combined with in-person psychotherapeutic intervention methods will provide solutions for the future, especially in crisis situations.

Objective: [U25] Germany is a low-threshold, anonymous and free-of-charge online suicide prevention service for people up to 25 years of age. Its special feature is that counseling is provided by trained and continuously supervised voluntary peers. This study addresses the following research questions: (1) Which life adversities are reported by the clients of [U25]? (2) Are the life adversities intercorrelated? (3) According to patients, do life adversities change during the counseling process? (4) What are the associations between life adversities and outcome measures (e.g., reduction in suicidality or improvement in general situation)? Method: Data was collected through an online survey (n = 318). To measure psychological burden, the presence of 16 life adversities (e.g., problems in relationships) was assessed retrospectively. As the dependent variable, the change in suicidality was measured by means of three newly created items. In addition, a short form of the Bochum Change Questionnaire 2000 (BCQ 2000) was used to assess the patients’ subjectively perceived change due to counseling. Results: Regarding life adversities, the clients were heavily burdened. Throughout the course of counseling, many clients’ situations improved, at least concerning several adversities. Some life adversities significantly correlate with each other, but the correlation is mostly small to moderate. Suicidality is positively correlated with self-harming behaviors and loss of someone close to the advice seekers. Conclusions: Possible starting points for improving online counseling for suicidal adolescents and young adults are discussed.

Online counseling is widely regarded as a cost-effective and convenient means to provide basic counseling services, and it is increasingly being used in university treatment. However, it is unclear what amount of information and attitude students have about online counseling in colleges of education. This study looked at students' views toward and likelihood of using online counseling towards help information seeking and dissemination to see if it has the potential to increase overall service consumption. A survey was conducted and responded to by 411 students from two Ghanaian colleges of education and based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, students' attitudes and intentions to use online counseling were investigated. The paucity of online counseling systems in the colleges of education is shown in the study, yet 94% of participants said they would use online counseling services if given the opportunity. Based on these findings, it is recommended that providing online counseling in parallel to face-to-face counseling could be an effective strategy for counseling units in colleges of education to boost service delivery and so better serve their students.

Background: Breast cancer, as the most prevalent malignancy among women globally and in Iran, affects important aspects of the lives of the survivors of this condition, especially the quality of sexual life. Solution-focused brief therapy is one of the therapeutic counseling approaches used in various fields, including sexual function problems. In recent years, online and internet-mediated counseling methods have received more attention. Objective: This study investigated the effect of online counseling based on a solution-focused approach in improving the sexual quality of life (SQL) of women with breast cancer. Materials & methods: In this clinical trial, the research population consisted of women with a history of breast cancer with a recorded file in Shahid Ramazanzadeh Radiation Oncology Center in Yazd and at least 6 months had elapsed since the end of their treatment. After selecting 80 samples based on the random numbers table, they were assigned into two groups of 40, i.e., active control and intervention, using random allocation software. Participants in the intervention group were given online counseling through the Skyroom space with a solution-focused approach. Eight weekly sessions were held each lasting 60–90 min. The active control group received an educational file to improve the SQL. All participants in two groups completed the SQL questionnaire at the beginning of the study, at the end of the study, and 1 month after the study. Data were analyzed with SPSS18 using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Finally, the data of 33 participants in the intervention group and 32 participants in the active control group were analyzed. The mean score of the SQL in the intervention group increased from 68.57 ± 18.63 before the intervention to 78.84 ± 12.7 immediately after the intervention (P = 0.015), and to 79.60 ± 19.88 1 month after the intervention (P = 0.012). The mean score of the SQL in the active control group increased from 64.45 ± 22.76 before the intervention to 67.20 ± 20.29 immediately after the intervention (P = 0.33), and to 68.70 ± 20.76 1 month after the intervention (P = 0.62). The difference in the mean score of the SQL before and after the intervention between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.007). Conclusion: It seems that the use of counseling with a solution-focused approach in women with a history of breast cancer improves the SQL. Thus, considering the effectiveness of this type of training, it is recommended that this method be used as a sexual health counseling method in medical centers. Trial registration: This clinical trial is registered in Iranian registry center of clinical trials (IRCT) by registration code of IRCT20201221049784N1 in 06/03/2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: [U25] Germany is a low-threshold, anonymous and free-of-charge online suicide prevention service for people up to 25 years of age. Its special feature is that counseling is provided by trained and continuously supervised voluntary peers. This study addresses the following research questions: (1) Which life adversities are reported by the clients of [U25]? (2) Are the life adversities intercorrelated? (3) According to patients, do life adversities change during the counseling process? (4) What are the associations between life adversities and outcome measures (e.g., reduction in suicidality or improvement in general situation)? Method: Data was collected through an online survey (n = 318). To measure psychological burden, the presence of 16 life adversities (e.g., problems in relationships) was assessed retrospectively. As the dependent variable, the change in suicidality was measured by means of three newly created items. In addition, a short form of the Bochum Change Questionnaire 2000 (BCQ 2000) was used to assess the patients’ subjectively perceived change due to counseling. Results: Regarding life adversities, the clients were heavily burdened. Throughout the course of counseling, many clients’ situations improved, at least concerning several adversities. Some life adversities significantly correlate with each other, but the correlation is mostly small to moderate. Suicidality is positively correlated with self-harming behaviors and loss of someone close to the advice seekers. Conclusions: Possible starting points for improving online counseling for suicidal adolescents and young adults are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal counselor competence refers to the metacognition skills to manage all their mental experiences and internal conditions. These are in the form of mind skills. In particular, in the industrial revolution 4.0 and the COVID-19 pandemic situation, online counselors face many unpredictable and unfamiliar conditions. This study aims to identify the state level of the counselor's mind skills during online counseling sessions. This research method uses survey research methods of 181 online counselors in various regions in Indonesia. A mind skills journal is the instrument used for data collection to assess the four levels of counselor metacognition (reflective, strategic, aware, and tacit). The analysis used basic statistics and graphs. The results showed the overall score of the mind skills level was 78.166%, which was in the strategic use level. The mind skills contribution can be counselor self-regulation, counselor assessment, verbalization, information visualization description, causal analysis, and predictive planning. Suggestions based on research results are the need for an alternative to improve mind skills through reflective learning of prospective counselors and reflective supervision activities of counselors in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing problem among university students is academic burnout, and it has become more prevalent in recent years. With the increasing demand for school mental health services, online counseling interventions are gradually being regarded as a reasonable way to provide assistance to students with regard to burnout reduction. It was the researcher's aim to find out whether an online counseling intervention would be able to reduce academic burnout in a Nigerian undergraduate sample. A total of 80 Nigerian undergraduates were participants of this study. In this study, the participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n=40) and to the control group (n=40) by using a simple randomization procedure. For the collection of data, the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory for Students and the Students School Burnout Inventory were utilised. The researcher applied repeated measures ANOVA to examine within and between groups' mean differences, reported η² to establish treatment effect size, and conducted posthoc analyses where mean differences existed using Holm's approach. The results of the study demonstrate that the online counseling intervention for academic burnout was effective in reducing the level of academic burnout among Nigerian undergraduates.As online counseling can help students reduce academic burnout, this finding opens the door to reach a larger number of burned-out students, such as those who live off-campus or are afraid of social stigma when seeking mental health care. This intervention has the potential to significantly improve student mental health related to burnout in other higher education settings like polytechnics. It is recommended that students should be encouraged to receive psychological supports and care from the university's counseling centre, not just during crises, but as a regular process of mental health support.

This article is delivered to the readers with three important objectives: (1) to enhance understanding of online counseling in terms of meaning, historical background, categories and components ; (2) to present the advantages and limitations of online counseling, and (3) to inform readers of the results of recent online counseling research studies in order to shed light on trends or directions of current and future research in this stream of social, economic, political, catastrophic volatilityand COVID-19 pandemic. The authors synthesized the body of knowledge from books, textbooks, documents and relevant research integrating with personal experiences in conducting online counseling research. At the beginning of this article, the authors present important content of online counseling. More information on advantages and limitations of online counseling are detailed at the middle of the article. In the final part, the authors show an example of online counseling research to guide readers including psychologists, mental health providers, and psychiatric practitioners with information for further personal improvement in order to gain readiness for online services. This article will also be beneficial to individuals with stress and anxiety who are seeking initial help. They can use this primary information to aid the decision for obtaining online psychological services to alleviate mental health issues and continue further treatment process in a medical care unit.

Background: COVID-19 has triggered public health crises all around the globe. It has caused mental health issues not only in infected cases but also in uninfected cases. The world was put under strict/restricted lockdown to contain the transmission of COVID-19 diseases. All important aspects of life including therapies and counseling went online. “EmoAid” is one such online mental health program started during the COVID-19 to ease psychological distress. Aim: The current study assessed the efficacy of “EmoAid” program. Methods: One hundred and twenty-two participants completed depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 online at three time periods; before the program (T1), after the program (T2), and 3 weeks after the program to study the maintenance effect (T3). Results: The results suggested that the program was successful in decreasing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among participants. The maintenance effect of the program was also observed. Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of “EmoAid,” an online mental health program in lowering the levels of psychological distress during the pandemic, however, a randomized controlled study is required to validate the results.

The social question answering based online counseling (SQA-OC) is easy access for people seeking professional mental health information and service, has become the crucial pre-consultation and application stage toward online counseling. However, there is a lack of efforts to evaluate and explain the counselors' service quality in such an asynchronous online questioning and answering (QA) format efficiently. This study applied the notion of perceived helpfulness as a public's perception of counselors' service quality in SQA-OC, used computational linguistic and explainable machine learning (XML) methods suited for large-scale QA discourse analysis to build an predictive model, explored how various sources and types of linguistic cues [i.e., Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC), topic consistency, linguistic style similarity, emotional similarity] contributed to the perceived helpfulness. Results show that linguistic cues from counselees, counselors, and synchrony between them are important predictors, the linguistic cues and XML can effectively predict and explain the perceived usefulness of SQA-OC, and support operational decision-making for counselors. Five helpful counseling experiences including linguistic styles of “talkative”, “empathy”, “thoughtful”, “concise with distance”, and “friendliness and confident” were identified in the SQA-OC. The paper proposed a method to evaluate the perceived helpfulness of SQA-OC service automatically, effectively, and explainable, shedding light on the understanding of the SQA-OC service outcome and the design of a better mechanism for SQA-OC systems.

The present study examines the impact of fear of COVID-19 on attitudes and intentions towards online and face-to-face counseling. A total of 526 adults participated in this study. The path analysis results indicated that attitude towards online and face-to-face counseling differentially mediated the relationship between COVID-19 fear and both counseling intentions, even when controlling for other covariates. Specifically, fear of COVID-19 predicted positive attitudes towards online counseling (value of counseling), which in turn, predicted online counseling intention. On the other hand, COVID-19 fear affected negative attitudes towards face-to-face counseling (discomfort with counseling), resulting in a decrease in face-to-face counseling intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 has triggered public health crises all around the globe. It has caused mental health issues not only in infected cases but also in uninfected cases. The world was put under strict/restricted lockdown to contain the transmission of COVID-19 diseases. All important aspects of life including therapies and counseling went online. "EmoAid" is one such online mental health program started during the COVID-19 to ease psychological distress. Aim: The current study assessed the efficacy of "EmoAid" program. Methods: One hundred and twenty-two participants completed depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 online at three time periods; before the program (T1), after the program (T2), and 3 weeks after the program to study the maintenance effect (T3). Results: The results suggested that the program was successful in decreasing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among participants. The maintenance effect of the program was also observed. Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of "EmoAid," an online mental health program in lowering the levels of psychological distress during the pandemic, however, a randomized controlled study is required to validate the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for online counseling to preserve therapeutic processes that have begun face to face and to provide service to others in need during lockdowns. Previous studies underscored the importance of providing updated training as counselors frequently hesitate to use technological advances in therapeutic sessions. This study aims at reducing such barriers by revealing personal characteristics of future professionals that might inhibit or encourage their openness toward providing online counseling. To this end, this study is focused on several precursors of openness to provide online counseling: preference to communicate emotions online, identification of emotional expressiveness advantages in providing online counseling, innovative behavior, creativity, and future problem-solving thinking skills. The question at focus is which constructs would be found contributive to students' openness to provide online counseling. The sample included 277 undergraduate students (future counselors) who filled out questionnaires. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. Our findings pointed to the centrality of students' preference to communicate their emotions online in explaining their openness to conducting online counseling. This study might help pinpointing the adjustments curriculum designers should address to better reflect the intensive changes within the counseling field that necessitate transferring face-to-face skills to online settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for online counseling to preserve therapeutic processes that have begun face to face and to provide service to others in need during lockdowns. Previous studies underscored the importance of providing updated training as counselors frequently hesitate to use technological advances in therapeutic sessions. This study aims at reducing such barriers by revealing personal characteristics of future professionals that might inhibit or encourage their openness toward providing online counseling. To this end, this study is focused on several precursors of openness to provide online counseling: preference to communicate emotions online, identification of emotional expressiveness advantages in providing online counseling, innovative behavior, creativity, and future problem-solving thinking skills. The question at focus is which constructs would be found contributive to students’ openness to provide online counseling. The sample included 277 undergraduate students (future counselors) who filled out questionnaires. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. Our findings pointed to the centrality of students’ preference to communicate their emotions online in explaining their openness to conducting online counseling. This study might help pinpointing the adjustments curriculum designers should address to better reflect the intensive changes within the counseling field that necessitate transferring face-to-face skills to online settings.

Online counseling is widely regarded as a cost-effective and convenient means to provide basic counseling services, and it is increasingly being used in university treatment. However, it is unclear what amount of information and attitude students have about online counseling in colleges of education. This study looked at students' views toward and likelihood of using online counseling towards help information seeking and dissemination to see if it has the potential to increase overall service consumption. A survey was conducted and responded to by 411 students from two Ghanaian colleges of education and based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, students' attitudes and intentions to use online counseling were investigated. The paucity of online counseling systems in the colleges of education is shown in the study, yet 94% of participants said they would use online counseling services if given the opportunity. Based on these findings, it is recommended that providing online counseling in parallel to face-to-face counseling could be an effective strategy for counseling units in colleges of education to boost service delivery and so better serve their students., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Background: Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are widespread in Japan, and smoking cessation of such products has become an important issue owing to the spread of harmful effects from HTPs. The efficacy of online digital therapy has been reported in smoking cessation treatment; however, we have limited evidence of online smoking cessation programs for HTP users., Objective: In this study, we evaluate the usefulness of the Ascure program for HTP users (defined as exclusive HTP use or dual use of HTP and cigarettes) compared with exclusive cigarette users., Methods: This was a retrospective study. We recruited adult smokers participating in the Ascure online smoking cessation program in Japan from June 2019 to February 2021. The Ascure smartphone app provided four elements: (1) educational video tutorials to enhance the understanding of nicotine dependence, (2) a personalized to-do list for behavior change, (3) a digital diary for record keeping, and (4) interactive chat sessions for relief from cravings or withdrawal symptoms. The primary outcome was the continuous abstinence rate (CAR) at weeks 21 to 24, biochemically validated using salivary cotinine testing. We considered those who dropped out of the program as smoking cessation failures. We analyzed the primary outcome using inverse probability weighting against tobacco product type estimated by multinomial propensity scores. We also assessed CAR at weeks 9 to 12 and program adherence., Results: We analyzed data from 2952 participants, including 52% (1524/3478) in the cigarette group, 35% (1038/3478) in the HTP group, and 13% (390/3478) in the dual-use group, who had a mean age of 43.4 (SD 10.8) years and included 17% (513/2952) women. CAR at weeks 21 to 24 showed that exclusive HTP users were more likely to stop tobacco use than exclusive cigarette smokers (CAR 52.6% for cigarette users vs CAR 64.8% for HTP users; odds ratio [OR] 1.17, 95% CI 1.12-1.22; P<.001). There was no significant difference between the exclusive cigarette users and the dual users (CAR 52.6% for cigarette users vs CAR 48.7% for dual users; OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.93-1.05; P=.77). CAR at weeks 9 to 12 was 56.7% (95% CI 54.2%-59.2%) for the exclusive cigarette users, 68.3% (95% CI 65.5%-71.1%) for the exclusive HTP users, and 58.2% (95% CI 53.3%-63.1%) for the dual users. The program adherence rate at week 24 was 70.7% overall (68.4% for cigarette users, 75% for HTP users, and 67.9% for dual users)., Conclusions: Exclusive HTP users had higher CARs and adherence compared with exclusive cigarette users, indicating a higher affinity for the Ascure online smoking cessation program. This program might be a useful smoking cessation option for HTP users, as well as for cigarette smokers., (©Yuko Noda, Ryuhei So, Misaki Sonoda, Takahiro Tabuchi, Akihiro Nomura. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 17.03.2023.)

The social question answering based online counseling (SQA-OC) is easy access for people seeking professional mental health information and service, has become the crucial pre-consultation and application stage toward online counseling. However, there is a lack of efforts to evaluate and explain the counselors' service quality in such an asynchronous online questioning and answering (QA) format efficiently. This study applied the notion of perceived helpfulness as a public's perception of counselors' service quality in SQA-OC, used computational linguistic and explainable machine learning (XML) methods suited for large-scale QA discourse analysis to build an predictive model, explored how various sources and types of linguistic cues [i.e., Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC), topic consistency, linguistic style similarity, emotional similarity] contributed to the perceived helpfulness. Results show that linguistic cues from counselees, counselors, and synchrony between them are important predictors, the linguistic cues and XML can effectively predict and explain the perceived usefulness of SQA-OC, and support operational decision-making for counselors. Five helpful counseling experiences including linguistic styles of "talkative", "empathy", "thoughtful", "concise with distance", and "friendliness and confident" were identified in the SQA-OC. The paper proposed a method to evaluate the perceived helpfulness of SQA-OC service automatically, effectively, and explainable, shedding light on the understanding of the SQA-OC service outcome and the design of a better mechanism for SQA-OC systems., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Huang, Liu, Li, Wang and Zhou.)

The present study examines the impact of fear of COVID-19 on attitudes and intentions towards online and face-to-face counseling. A total of 526 adults participated in this study. The path analysis results indicated that attitude towards online and face-to-face counseling differentially mediated the relationship between COVID-19 fear and both counseling intentions, even when controlling for other covariates. Specifically, fear of COVID-19 predicted positive attitudes towards online counseling (value of counseling), which in turn, predicted online counseling intention. On the other hand, COVID-19 fear affected negative attitudes towards face-to-face counseling (discomfort with counseling), resulting in a decrease in face-to-face counseling intention.