EFFECTIVENESS OF

SELF-HELP MATERIAL Helen Cardoso, Bryan Stites, Advisor :Jim A. Haugh,PhD.

Rowan University

Seeking Help• People experience problems such as

• Psychological Distress• Social problems • Occupational difficulties

• Where do people find help?

Where do people find help?Physician

s

Therapists/Psychologist

Psychiatrists

Support

GroupsFriends

Religious Institutions

Nutritionist

Efficacy versus Effectiveness of Traditional Psychotherapy

Efficacy

• Establishes high internal validity• For example:

• Experimental Method

Effectiveness

• Establishes high external validity• For example:

• Survey-based

PsychotherapyEfficacy Effectiveness

People who are treated for mental health problems are better off than 75% of people who are not treated (Smith & Glass,1977).

Consumer report found that 87% of individuals who sought out therapy reported that they felt better (Seligman, 1995).

PsychotherapyEfficacy Effectiveness

People who are treated for mental health problems are better off than 75% of people who are not treated (Smith & Glass,1977).

Consumer report found that 87% of individuals who sought out therapy reported that they felt better (Seligman, 1995).

Problems with Traditional Psychotherapy

• Many people do not seek it out: • Why don’t people seek treatment?

• It’s expensive • It’s time consuming • Stigmas associated with therapy

What is an alternative to psychotherapy?

• Self-help Materials:• Self-directed activity aimed at improving one’s life. • Specific goals might include

• Better Problem solving.• Gaining insight and awareness,• Better Self-Management, • Improving relationships, and/or • Reaching your goals 

Why is self-help a good alternative?• Reasons people use self-help:

• Cost• Availability• At own leisure• Lack of Stigma

Seligman, 1995

Are Self-help Treatments Efficacious?• Many studies, over numerous years (including those done

in our lab), indicate yes.• For example, Scogin, Bynum, Stephens, & Calhoon, 1990

• Meta-analysis • Effective in comparison with no treatment.

Purpose of Current Study

Psychotherapy Self-Help

Efficacy

Effectiveness None

Questions of the Current Study • Research Question #1:

• What type of self –help is used?

• Research Question #2:• Do people see self-help as effective in achieving their goals?

Participants• Two different samples were recruited:

• Undergraduate students (N=113)• SONA

• General population (GP; N=62)• Amazon• Reddit• Facebook• Referral from friend.

ParticipantsSample (N=175)

Age Range 18-34; Mean 20

RaceCaucasian (68%), Black/African American (11%), Asian (3%), Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (1%), American Indian/Alaskan Native (1%)Other (16%)

Ethnicity Non –Hispanic/Non-Latino (90%)Hispanic/Latino ( 10%),

Gender Male (59%);Female (41%)

Method • Retrospective online survey • This question was a “check all that apply.”

Method• Looked at effectiveness of self-help in four different questions:

• Did Self-help assist you with your problem? • Did Self-help assist you feel better? • Did Self-help assist you in your relationships?• Did Self-help assist with school/work

• 5-point Likert scale • (5) Made things a lot better• (4) Made things somewhat better• (3) Made no difference• (2) Made things somewhat worse• (1) Made things a lot worse

Results

Internet Sites Books Television shows

Movies/ Documentaries

Smart Phone or Tablet Apps

In-Person Support Groups

Online Support Groups

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Research Question #1: What type of self –help is used?

Self-Help Material Used in the Last Year

Note: N=175

Results

Impro

ve P

roblem

Add

resse

d

Feelin

g Bett

er

Impro

ve R

elatio

nship

s with

othe

rs

Impro

ve W

ork/S

choo

l Perf

orman

ce

0102030405060708090

77 77

59 59

18 18

35 37

2 3 2 2

A lot better/Somewhat better No Difference Somewhat/ A lot Worse

Note: N=175

Perceived Effectiveness of Self-Help Material

Research Question #2:Do people see self-help as effective in achieving their goals?

So why does this matter?• People spend billions of dollars a year on self-help materials.

• Self-help is perceived as effective in assisting individuals with a variety of different circumstances.

• though self-help is not comparable to psychotherapy, the 75% of people who do not seek help through psychotherapy at least have viable alternatives.

Limitations• Effectiveness of specific

genres of self-help• Why self-help has the

potential for negative outcomes.

• More specific assessment of time time between use and survey.

Future Directions• Bias on utilization • Broad definition of self-

help materials • Did not assess for

individual presenting problem

Oops!

Limitations• Effectiveness of specific

genres of self-help• Why self-help has the

potential for negative outcomes.

• More specific assessment of time time between use and survey.

Future Directions• Bias on utilization • Broad definition of self-

help materials • Did not assess for

individual presenting problem

Oops!

Acknowledgements Jim A. Haugh, Ph.D.

The R.O.A.D.(Research on Anxiety and Depression)

Research Team

EFFECTIVENESS OF

SELF-HELP MATERIAL Helen Cardoso, Bryan Stites, Advisor :Jim A. Haugh,PhD.

Rowan University