Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil)
The use of online psychological interventions has been increasingly consolidated as a relevant strategy to expand access to mental health care. This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal effects of an individual, synchronous online psychological intervention based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, mental well-being, and technology acceptance in a Brazilian sample. A total of 39 participants were included in the longitudinal analyses. Assessments were conducted over a three-year period following the initial intervention and included pre-intervention, post-intervention, and two follow-up time points. The analyzed sample comprised participants who completed all assessment stages. The following instruments were used: the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology – Patient Version (UTAUT-P). Analyses were conducted using Generalized Estimating Equations, which indicated significant reductions in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress over time (p < .001), with no significant interaction between intervention type and time. Multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated that emotional symptoms and levels of well-being explained key dimensions of technology acceptance (R² ranging from .18 to .32). These findings support the effectiveness and feasibility of synchronous online psychological interventions within the Brazilian context.
