Efficacy of guided internet-assisted intervention on depression reduction among educational technology students of Nigerian universities

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The study's objective was to determine the efficacy of guided internet-assisted intervention (GIAI) on depression reduction among educational technology students of Nigerian universities. METHODS: The design of the study was a 10-weeks group-randomized trial (GRT) which involved a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up assessment. A total of 192 educational technology students who were identified as having depression formed the sample of the study. Beck's Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was the measure used for data collection in the study. Data collected were analyzed using ANOVA with repeated measures. RESULTS: The initial assessment results showed that the participants in both treatment and usual-care control groups had depression. After 10-weeks participation in GIAI, the assessment results showed a significant reduction in depression among students in the treatment group when compared to those in the usual-care control group. The follow-up assessment indicated a further significant reduction in the depression among participants in the treatment group when compared to those in the usual-care control group. CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that GIAI was significantly effective in reducing depression among university students in the treatment group compared to those in the usual-care control group. Therefore, educational technologists, counselors, psychologists, health workers, and other social workers should adopt educational intervention using GIAI in helping university students undergo depression reduction.