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Authors: Tobias Elgan (STAD, Karolinska Institutet), Anna K. Strandberg (STAD, Karolinska Institutet), Helena Hansson (Lunds University), Johanna Gripenberg (STAD, Karolinska Institutet), Julia Eriksson (Karolinska Institutet), Ola Siljeholm, Pia Kvillemo (STAD, Karolinska Institutet), Ulla Zetterlind (Lund University)
Background: Children with parents who have substance use problems or mental illness face an increased risk of negative consequences. Digital interventions offer accessible and scalable support. We translated and adapted a Dutch psychoeducative and therapist-guided group intervention ‘Kopstoring’, which comprises eight weekly online group sessions aimed at improving coping skills, mental health, quality of life, and reducing participants’ own alcohol consumption. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention among individuals aged 15-25.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial including an intervention and a control group. Participants aged 15-25 (n=156) were recruited via social media during 2016–2018 and allocated to intervention (n=98) or control group (n=58). Data were collected at baseline and at 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-ups. Assessments included scales for coping behavior, depression, quality of life, and alcohol consumption. Mixed-effects models were used for analysis.
Results: Of 4164 individuals who clicked on the social media ads, 305 were eligible after online screening, and 156 consented to participate. Adherence was low, with 26 participants attending at least one session and 19 attending four or more sessions. Loss to follow-up was high, with 33 participants in the intervention and 22 in the control group completing assessments at all time-points. Results indicated a significant difference in alcohol consumption between groups over time (p=0.002), but results were inconclusive due to differences between groups at baseline (p=0.024). No between-group differences were found for the other outcomes.
Conclusions: We found no evidence of effectiveness for the internet-delivered, therapist-guided group intervention, which somewhat corroborates findings from the Dutch study on Kopstoring. The low adherence significantly limits conclusions about intervention effects. Future efforts should focus on improving adherenstrong textce by tailoring interventions to the target group through co-creating interventions with end-users.
| Conflict of interest | None |
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