Randomized Controlled Trial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Jan 16, 2024; 12(2): 322-334
Published online Jan 16, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i2.322
Use of cognitive-behavioral career coaching to reduce work anxiety and depression in public employees
Mkpoikanke Sunday Otu, Maximus Monaheng Sefotho
Mkpoikanke Sunday Otu, Maximus Monaheng Sefotho, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, Gauteng, South Africa
Author contributions: Otu MS contributed significantly to every part of the manuscript. Specifically, he handled conceptualisation, visualisation, drafting, Writing, investigation, data analysis, data collection and project administration; Sefotho MM was responsible for sourcing for funding, proofreading, responding to reviewer’s/editors’ comments, reviewing of the manuscript before submission, English and technical editing, and general project supervision.
Institutional review board statement: In compliance with research ethics, the researchers complied with the standards set by the committee of research and ethics in the faculty of education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The researchers also conformed with the research principles specified in the Declaration of Helsinki, the World Medical Association, and the ethical standards for research with human subjects. The approval number for the study is REC/UNN/FE/2019/000039.
Clinical trial registration statement: This study was registered at Open Science Framework (OSF) registries (https://osf.io/5qfaw). The registration identification number is https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/5QFAW.
Informed consent statement: All the participants signed informed consent form.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interest in this study.
Data sharing statement: Data used in this study is available on request.
CONSORT 2010 statement: The authors have read the CONSORT 2010 statement, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CONSORT 2010 statement.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mkpoikanke Sunday Otu, Doctor, Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Fellow, Researcher, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, Gauteng, South Africa. motu@uj.ac.za
Received: November 2, 2023
Peer-review started: November 2, 2023
First decision: November 28, 2023
Revised: December 4, 2023
Accepted: December 25, 2023
Article in press: December 25, 2023
Published online: January 16, 2024
Processing time: 69 Days and 8.5 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND

Public employees worldwide are increasingly concerned about work anxiety and depression. Cognitive-behavioral career coaching has emerged as a promising strategy for addressing these mental health disorders, which can negatively impact on a person's overall well-being and performance.

AIM

To examine whether cognitive-behavioral career coaching reduces work anxiety and depression among Nigerian public employees.

METHODS

A total of 120 public employees (n = 60) suffering from severe anxiety and depression were randomly assigned to the treatment or control groups in this study. Cognitive behavioral coaching was provided twice a week to those in the treatment group, whereas no treatment was given to those in the control group. As part of the study, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scales and Beck Depression Inventory were used to collect data.

RESULTS

Analysis of covariance of the data from participants indicates a significant effect of cognitive-behavioral career coaching on work anxiety and depression.

CONCLUSION

Insights into the underlying mechanisms by which cognitive behavior career coaching exerts its effects have been gained from this study. Also, the study has gathered valuable data that can inform future practice and guide the development of strategies for supporting mental health at work.

Keywords: Cognitive-behavioral career coaching; Work anxiety; Depression; Public employees; North Central Nigeria

Core Tip: This study examined whether cognitive-behavioral career coaching (CBCC) could reduce work anxiety and depression among 120 public employees in North Central Nigeria. The treatment group received a twice-a-week CBCC, while the control group received a no treatment. The study found that CBCC is effective in reducing work anxiety and depression among public employees. The study recommends integrating the CBCC program into Public Service Commission's welfare program.