Neuroticism, extraversion, and self-compassion as mediators of therapeutic outcomes: Long-term effectiveness of a brief group adaptation of the Unified Protocol in a clinical sample of university students.
Abstract
Objectives
Emotional symptoms are highly prevalent among university students and are a frequent reason for seeking care in university psychological services. The Unified Protocol for the transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders (UP) may offer an efficient intervention for this context. this study examined the effectiveness of a brief face-to-face group adaptation of the UP in treatment-seeking university students, 12-month follow-up effects, and whether neuroticism, extraversion, and self-compassion mediated treatment effects.
Design
A quasi-experimental mixed design included UP group treatment, a waitlist control condition (WLC), and repeated measures.
Methods
One hundred and two students attending a university psychological service were assigned to UP group treatment (n = 51) or WLC (n = 51). Depression, anxiety, stress, neuroticism, extraversion, self-compassion, and quality of life were assessed at baseline (T1) and post-treatment/waitlist reassessment (T2; 9 weeks) and additionally at 12-month follow-up (T3) for the UP group.
Results
UP participants showed significant reductions in depression, anxiety, stress, and neuroticism, and significant improvements in quality of life and self-compassion, with moderate to large effect sizes. Most treatment gains were maintained at follow-up, and quality of life and neuroticism continued to improve over time. Mediation analyses suggested that neuroticism reductions mediated emotional symptoms and quality-of-life improvements, whereas self-compassion increases mediated stress reduction and quality-of-life improvement. Extraversion was not a unique mediator when considered alongside neuroticism and self-compassion.
Conclusions
A group adaptation of the UP may be a clinically useful and efficient intervention for treatment-seeking university students with emotional symptoms. Neuroticism and self-compassion may represent relevant transdiagnostic change processes.