ISSN 0439-755X
CN 11-1911/B

Acta Psychologica Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (4): 349-361.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2021.00349

• Reports of Empirical Studies • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Progress feedback and its effects on working alliance and treatment outcomes

SUN Qiwu1,2, WU Caizhi1,3, YU Lixia1,2(), WANG Weixin4, SHEN Guocheng4   

  1. 1School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
    2Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (Central China Normal University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
    3Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430079, China
    4Mental Health Service Center, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
  • Received:2020-07-01 Published:2021-04-01 Online:2021-02-22
  • Contact: YU Lixia E-mail:yulixia@mail.ccnu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    key program of National Social Science Foundation of China(16ZDA232);Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (Central China Normal University) Ministry of Education, the Key Laboratory of human development and mental health of Hubei Province(2019B01)

Abstract:

The purpose of progress feedback is to correct the bias of the therapist’s subjective evaluation of the treatment effect and to improve the treatment outcomes. Considering that the standard “face-to-face” progress feedback procedure of therapists and clients does not conform to the social and cultural habits of our country, this paper analyzes the influence of non-face-to-face progress feedback on working alliance and treatment effect in a natural setting using multi-level structural equation model. The results showed that at the between-person level, the quality of working alliance was better in the feedback group, and at the within-person level, the relationship between working alliance and symptom was reciprocal. At the end of the case, the feedback group was better at the helpfulness of therapy rated by clients and decreased more at the depressive symptoms. The conclusion is that progress feedback has a positive influence on working alliance and treatment effect. The study expands the literature on the mechanism of progress feedback from the perspective of working alliance and Chinese Guanxi, providing empirical evidence for the application of progress feedback in natural settings.

Key words: progress feedback, working alliances, treatment outcome, multi-level structural equation modeling