HEALING DEPRESSION OF YOUTH AFFECTED BY THE LOSS OF PARENTS DUE TO THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK THROUGH PROVIDING ONLINE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THEORY COUNSELING

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research had two main objectives: 1) to compare the effects of online Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT) counseling in alleviating depression in youths affected by the loss of parents due to the COVID-19pandemic, measured before the experiment, after the experiment, and during the follow-up period; and 2) to compare the effects of online CBT counseling between the experimental group and the control group in similar circumstances. The research tools included the 9Q assessment and a 32-item assessment for depression following parental loss due to COVID-19, with a reliability score of 0.93, alongside an online individual CBT counseling program. The sample group consisted of 20youths aged 15-18years who lost parents to COVID-19and scored moderately on the 9-question depression assessment (9Q) from the Department of Mental Health. The participants were divided into an experimental group, which received ten sessions of individual online CBT counseling, each lasting 60minutes, and a control group, which did not receive this intervention, with each group containing ten individuals matched by scores. The data was analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance: one between-subjects variance and one within-subjects variance. The study found that the depression scores of youths in the experimental group who received individual online CBT counseling were significantly lower post-experiment and during the follow-up period compared to before the experiment, at a statistical significance level of .05. Moreover, the experimental group showed significantly lower depression scores than the control group, at a statistical significance level of .05. In conclusion, the online CBT counseling program effectively reduceddepression in youths impacted by the loss of parents due to the COVID-19pandemic.