Effects of Character Strength-Based Intervention vs Group Counseling on Post-Traumatic Growth, Well-Being, and Depression Among University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Guangdong, China: A Non-Inferiority Trial

Figures & data

Figure 1 Flow diagram of the study.

Table 1 Baseline Demographic and Socio-Economic Characteristics of the Study Participants Included in the Analysis

	CSI (%) (n=62)	GC (%) (n=62)
Gender
Male	21 (35.6)	20 (32.8)
Female	38 (64.4)	41 (67.2)
Grade
First year	42 (68.9)	42 (67.7)
Second year	19 (31.1)	20 (32.3)
Self-reported academic performance
Good	31 (54.3)	26 (44.1)
Pass	25 (43.9)	32 (54.2)
On probation	1 (1.8)	1 (1.7)
Family monthly income (CNY)
<5,000	29 (49.2)	25 (41.7)
5,001–10,000	16 (27.1)	20 (33.3)
>20,000	14 (23.7)	15 (25)
Sibling
No	16 (26.7)	17 (27.9)
Yes	44 (73.3)	44 (72.1)

Notes: Missing data not shown.

Abbreviations: CSI, character strength-based intervention; GC, group counseling.

Figure 2 Mean and 95% CI of positive growth score between two groups.

Figure 3 Mean and 95% CI of well-being score between two groups.

Figure 4 Mean and 95% CI of depression score between two groups.

Table 2 Outcomes Scores at Three Study Points, Mean Changes in Each Group Comparing to Baseline and Adjust Difference in Changes Between Groups

	CSI Group (n=62)	GC Group (n=62)	Change from Baseline Mean (SD)		Difference in Changes Between Groups (95% CI)*	p-value*
			CSI	GC
Positive growth
Baseline	47.68 (20.74)^a, b	51.08 (21.80)^a, b	–	–	–
Post-intervention	87.70 (14.22)^a	78.15 (20.72)^a	40.38 (35.25, 45.50)	26.78 (20.99, 32.57)	11.06 (5.42, 16.69)	<0.001
1 month follow-up	86.51 (12.73)^b	80.88 (21.66)^b	37.61 (32.79, 42.43)	28.88 (23.01, 34.75)	6.94 (1.12, 12.77)	0.021
Well-being
Baseline	52.71 (22.15) ^a, b	52.84 (21.18) ^a, b	–	–	–
Post-intervention	82.58 (16.57)^a	83.68 (15.59)^a	29.57 (24.80, 34.35)	30.92 (25.86, 35.97)	−0.84 (−5.62, 3.93)	0.731
1 month follow-up	85.54 (13.81)^b	82.24 (16.30)^b	31.64 (26.33, 36.95)	28.34 (23.45, 33.23)	3.33 (−1.52, 8.19)	0.181
Depression
Baseline	9.43 (5.43)	9.24 (5.25)	–	–	–
Post-intervention	9.81 (5.35)	8.84 (4.85)	0.89 (−0.21, 2.00)	−0.39 (−1.72, 0.94)	1.08 (−0.38, 2.55)	0.149
1 month follow-up	9.75 (5.18)	10.14 (5.03)	1.09 (−0.04, 2.22)	1.14 (−0.31, 2.58)	0.16 (−1.75,1.43)	0.841

Notes: ^ap-value of simple pairwise comparisons of post-hoc tests in MANOVA (pre-int. vs post-int.) <0.05, adjusted using the Bonferroni multiple testing correction method; ^bp-value of simple pairwise comparisons of post-hoc tests in MANOVA (pre-int. vs 1-month follow-up) <0.05, adjusted using the Bonferroni multiple testing correction method; *Difference in changes between groups (95% CI) and p-value calculated with linear mixed effect model with adjustment for baseline score.

Abbreviations: CSI, character strength-based intervention; GC, group counseling.