A qualitative study of sexual minority young people’s experiences of computerised therapy for depression
Abstract
Objective: To describe the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual or sexual minority youth who used a form of computerised therapy (Rainbow SPARX) for depression. Methods: 25 adolescents (20 with significant depressive symptoms) who had trialled Rainbow SPARX took part in semi-structured interviews. The general inductive approach was used to analyse interview data. Results: Feedback consisted of five main themes: ‘appealing aspects’; ‘applying it to real life’; ‘things to improve’; ‘aspects that did not appeal’; and ‘other themes’. Young people suggested that there should be more sexuality-specific (‘rainbow’) content in the computer program. Seventeen participants thought computerised therapy helped them feel better or less depressed. Conclusions: Consumer perspectives are increasingly being sought and this user input is especially useful for improving services. Our study provides important in-depth feedback on Rainbow SPARX from the perspective of sexual minority youth, and it highlights that computerised therapies can be successfully modified for groups traditionally under-served by mainstream mental health interventions.
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Many internet-delivered studies have not been implemented for the LGBTQ+ community, with one exception: the computerized CBT-Rainbow SPARX.
“However, many internet-delivered studies have not been implemented for the LGBTQ+ community, with one exception: the computerized CBT-Rainbow SPARX (Smart, Positive, Active, Realistic, X-Factor Thoughts), aimed at reducing depression symptoms in adolescents who manifested same-sex attraction [43].”
From An Internet-Based Intervention to Increase the Ability of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People to Cope With Adverse Events: Single-Group Feasibility Study (2024) · cites this paper as [43]
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- Authors
- Lucassen, M. F., Hatcher, S., Fleming, T. M., Stasiak, K., Shepherd, M. J., & Merry, S. N.
- Affiliations
- University of Auckland (NZ)
- University of Ottawa (CA)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Australasian Psychiatry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2015-04-16
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 268-273
- ISSN
- 1039-8562 (ISSN-L)
- 1440-1665
- OpenAlex
- W2033227293
- Cited by
- 49
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 4.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Australasian Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Open Research Online - ORO (The Open University) (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- sexual minority youth, depression, SPARX, adolescents, user feedback, access to mental health care
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Bisexuality, Child, Depression, Female, Homosexuality, Humans, Male, Therapy, Computer-Assisted, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Patient Satisfaction, Qualitative Research
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