Psychotherapists’ rated working alliance in an internet-based intervention for bereaved siblings

Abstract

Bereaved siblings often receive insufficient social support and are at higher risk for mental disorders. This study aimed to examine the role of the therapist-rated working alliance in an online intervention for bereaved siblings. Clients (n = 74, 95% female), aged 17–59 received writing assignments and individual feedback by CBT trained therapists over 6 weeks. Working alliance (Working Alliance Inventory) and treatment outcomes (Inventory of Complicated Grief, Beck Depression Inventory-II) were assessed. Results revealed that the working alliance significantly increased during the course of the treatment and a significant association between working alliance and the change in depression was found.

Notes

1 While a test of measurement invariance for residual variances was not significant, LR(3) = 6.07, p = 0.108, variances were not restricted to be equal across measurement points to allow for a better model-fit in the more complex models, which also include grief and depression, respectively.

Additional information

Funding

The present work was financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.