Table 2.
Baseline characteristics of the 244 participants.
| Characteristic | Experimental group (n = 121) |
Control group (n = 123) |
All (N = 244) |
Statistics | |
| Female gender, n (%) | 101 (83.5%) | 105 (85.4%) | 206 (84.4%) | χ2 1 = 0.2, P = .68 | |
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 20.8 (2.2) | 21.0 (2.3) | 20.9 (2.2) | t 242 = 0.6, P = .53 | |
| Age range (years), n (%) | χ2 2 =0.2, P = .92 | ||||
| 16–17 | 5 (4%) | 4 (3%) | 9 (4%) | ||
| 18–21 | 66 (55%) | 69 (56%) | 135 (55.3%) | ||
| 22–25 | 50 (41%) | 50 (41%) | 100 (41.0%) | ||
| Education level, n (%) a | χ2 2 =0.6, P = .73 | ||||
| Low | 10 (8%) | 10 (8%) | 20 (8%) | ||
| Middle | 50 (41%) | 45 (37%) | 95 (39%) | ||
| High | 61 (50%) | 68 (55%) | 129 (52.8%) | ||
| Daily activities, n (%) | χ2 2 =1.9, P = .38 | ||||
| Study | 83 (69%) | 85 (69%) | 168 (69%) | ||
| Paid employment | 32 (26%) | 27 (22%) | 59 (24%) | ||
| Other | 6 (5%) | 11 (9%) | 17 (7%) | ||
| Living situation, n (%) | χ2 3 = 3.5, P = .32 | ||||
| With parents | 56 (46%) | 59 (48%) | 115 (47.1%) | ||
| With partner | 13 (11%) | 18 (15%) | 31 (13%) | ||
| Alone | 26 (22%) | 16 (13%) | 42 (17%) | ||
| With others | 26 (22%) | 30 (24%) | 56 (23%) | ||
| Experience in Web chat, n (%) | 63 (52%) | 64 (52%) | 127 (52.0%) | χ2 1 = 0.0, P = .99 | |
| Professional help, n (%) | |||||
| Prior | 75 (62%) | 76 (62%) | 151 (61.9%) | χ2 1 = 0.0, P = .98 | |
| Current at baseline | 36 (30%) | 39 (32%) | 77 (32%) | χ2 1 = 0.1, P = .74 | |
| Test scores, mean (SD) | |||||
| CES-D depression scoreb | 32.5 (8.4) | 32.3 (8.2) | 32.3 (8.3) | t 242 = 0.28, P = .77 | |
| HADS Anxietyc | 11.2 (3.6) | 11.8 (3.7) | 11.5 (3.6) | t 242 = 1.27, P = .21 | |
| Masteryd | 12.8 (3.4) | 12.8 (3.6) | 12.8 (3.5) | t 242 =0.17, P = .86 | |
a Combination of highest completed or present education: low = primary or lower secondary school or less; middle = intermediate vocational school or secondary school; high = professional school or university.
b Dutch version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [43].
c Dutch version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [47].
d 5-item Mastery Scale [48].