Background: Anxiety-related functional impairment, as reflected by life interference, is a lesser explored but highly relevant treatment outcome, and it is crucial that it be included and examined in the evaluation of treatment outcomes of internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT).
Methods: This single group, pre-post study examined changes in life interference and anxiety symptoms in a sample of children (n = 1198; mean age 9.66 years) and adolescents (n = 721; mean age 13.66 years) participating in the BRAVE Self-Help program in Australia.
Results: Results demonstrated that both children and adolescents showed improvements in anxiety symptoms, with effect sizes ranging from ηp 2 = .194-.318. Reductions in life interference were evident for children (ηp 2 = .008-.044), particularly later in the programme, but adolescents did not show such effects. Adolescents in the low completer group (completing 3-5 sessions) showed increases in at-home interference (ηp 2 = .038).
Conclusions: Adolescents in particular may require more sessions before entrenched life interference, such as that resulting from avoidance behaviours, can be overcome.
Keywords: Anxiety; adolescent; child; iCBT; life functioning.
© 2023 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.