Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Exploratory Study of Psychosocial Therapies with Text Messages to Mobile Phones in Groups of Vulnerable Immigrant Women

Journal of Medical Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Various experimental studies on psychosocial therapy have been carried out through text messages with groups of people suffering from depression, anxiety, alcoholism, addictions, etc., but without distinguishing between men and women or highly vulnerable groups such as immigrants. We present an exploratory study of a mobile communication system which intends to improve the mental, physical and social health of a group of vulnerable immigrant women in Spain (n = 71), distinguishing between an intervention group and a non-equivalent control group. We sent automatic text messages (SMS) to the mobile phones of an intervention group formed by immigrant women who used the social services (n = 44). During a 26-day intervention period, the women received 4 daily automatic text messages on their phones, at a predetermined time. We measured mood and depression symptoms at the beginning and end of the intervention, and analysed the qualitative data to determine the acceptance level of a remote message program. The mood and depression symptoms were measured with the personal health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and were significantly better in the intervention group; they evolved from an initial 9.4 (DS = 6.4, range 1–25) to a 5.0 score at the end of the message period (DS = 4.8); with a significant difference (t (44) = 2.01, p = 7.80). Most women stated that the messages had improved their mood (86.3%), which made them feel more connected to their social environment (65.9%) and that they would like to continue receiving more messages (86.6%).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aguilera, A., Digital technology and mental health intervention: Opportunities and challenges. Arbor: Ciencia, Pensamiento y Cultura. 191(771):a210, 2015. https://doi.org/10.3989/arbor.2015.771n1012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Aguilera, A., Schueller, S. M., and Leykin, Y., Daily mood ratings via text message as a proxy for clinic based depression assessment. J. Affect. Disord. 175:471–474, 2015 https://bit.ly/2OPmQbW.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Aguilera, A., Bruehlman-Senecal, E., Demasi, O., and Avila, P., Automated text messaging as an adjunct to cognitive behavioral therapy for depression: A clinical trial. J. Med. Internet Res. 19:e148, 2017 https://bit.ly/2Q62qeZ.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Alves de Sousa, V., Intervención social y resiliencia: mujeres inmigrantes con dificultades sociales. [Ph-D. dissertation]. Valencia, IL: University of Valencia, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Aretxabala, M. E., and Riezu, X., Beyond boundaries: Reflections on the impact of ICTs usage for social capital of international migrants. Int. Econ. Lett. 1:5–14, 2012 https://bit.ly/2QXRsJL.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Campbell, B., Caine, K., Connelly, K. et al., Cell phone ownership and use among mental health outpatients in the USA. Pers. Ubiquit Comput. 19:367–378, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-014-0822-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chamaz, K., Constructing grounded theory. A practical guide through qualitative analysis. London: Sage, 2016, 42–71.

    Google Scholar 

  8. García, Y., Ferrás, C., Aguilera, A., and Ávila, P., Usability and pre-feasibility study of a remote cognitive behavioral therapy system with long-term unemployed women. J. Technol. Human Serv. 35:219–230, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228835.2017.1345672.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. García, Y., Ferrás, C., Rocha, A. et al., Design and acceptability of a psychosocial text messaging intervention for victims of gender-based violence. Health Inform. J., 2018. https://doi.org/10.1177/1460458218792688.

  10. GSMA Foundation. Women and Mobile: A Global Opportunity. A study on the mobile phone gender gap in low and middle-income countries. In Mobile World Congress 2015, Barcelona. Available at: http://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wpcontent/uploads/2013/01/GSMA_Women_and_Mobile-A_Global_Opportunity.pdf Accessed November 28 2018.

  11. Hall, A. K., Cole-Lewis, H., and Bernhardt, J. M., Mobile text messaging for health: A systematic review of reviews. Ann. Rev. Publ. Health [serial online] 18:393–415, 2015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Handley, M. A., Lyles, C. R., McCulloch, C. H. et al., Selecting and improving quasi-experimental designs in effectiveness and implementation research. Ann. Rev. Publ. Health 39:5–25, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040617-014128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. ITU. Indicators database.Disponible Mobile-Cellular Telephone Subscription 2017. In World Telecomm.indicators, 1OOO39398. Available at: https://bit.ly/2HLCwsA.

  14. Kong, G., Ells, D. M., Camenga, D. R., and Krishnan-Sarin, S., Text messaging-based smoking cessation intervention: A narrative review. Addict. Behav. 39:907–917, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.11.024.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., and Williams, J. B. W., The PHQ-9. J. Gen. Intern. Med. 16:606–613, 2001 https://bit.ly/2A7styu.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lopez, A., An investigation of the use of internet based resources in support of the therapeutic Alliance. Clin. Social Work J. 42:189–200, 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Lopez, A., Social work, technology, and ethical practices: A review and evaluation of the National Association of Social Workers’ technology standards. Soc. Work Health Care 53:815–833, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1080/00981389.2014.943454.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Proudfoot, J., Clarke, J., Birch, M.-R. et al., Impact of a mobile phone and web program on symptom and functional outcomes for people with mild-to-moderate depression, anxiety and stress: A randomised controlled trial. BMC Psychiatr. 13:312, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-13-312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Reamer, F. G., Ethical challenges in the technology age. Soc. Work Today 15:14, 2015 https://bit.ly/2xFrKBA.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Vázquez, M. Y. G., Sexto, C. F., Rocha, Á., and Aguilera, A., Mobile phones and psychosocial therapies with vulnerable people: A first state of the art. J. Med. Syst. 40:157, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-016-0500-y.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research would not be possible without the support and collaboration of the General Directorate of Social Inclusion of the Xunta de Galicia and the Iberian Association of Systems and Information Technology AISTI.

The costs of this study were covered by the General Directorate of Social Inclusion of the Autonomous Government of Galicia, Spain.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yolanda García.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Mobile & Wireless Health

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

García, Y., Ferrás, C., Rocha, Á. et al. Exploratory Study of Psychosocial Therapies with Text Messages to Mobile Phones in Groups of Vulnerable Immigrant Women. J Med Syst 43, 277 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-019-1393-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-019-1393-3

Keywords

Navigation