Internet-based CBT for young adults with low self-esteem: a randomized, controlled study.

BACKGROUND

Low self-esteem can be disabling for young individuals, negatively impacting school performance, relationships, and mental or physical health. Cognitive-behavioral conceptualizations and treatments for low self-esteem exist but have not been applied or evaluated in a young adult population.

TRIAL

DESIGN

To address this gap, this study evaluated a novel Internet-based CBT (ICBT) for young adults (18-25 years) suffering from low self-esteem in a randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

Eighty-six participants were recruited and randomized to either seven weeks of therapist-guided ICBT (n = 43) or a wait-list control condition (n = 43). Measures of self-esteem, self-compassion, depression, anxiety, and quality of life were assessed pre-and post treatment. Roseberg self-esteem scale (RSES-10) was the primary outcome.

RESULTS

The results suggest that therapist-guided ICBT can be an effective way to strengthen self-esteem in young adults, revealing a large between group effect size in favor of the treatment group (RSES-10; d = 1.24). Statistically significant results were also found on the secondary measures, resulting in moderate to large effect sizes.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that ICBT can be an effective way to treat low self-esteem in young adults. The results are preliminary and warrants further evaluation and replication.