Job Coaching and Smartphone-Based Cognitive Behavioral Techniques for Returning to Work and Coping With Unemployment (DRIVEN): Randomized Controlled Trial.
9 affiliations
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60637, United States, 1 773 702 1971.
- 2Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
- 3University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, United States.
- 4Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stephen M. Stahl Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States.
- 5Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
- 6Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States.
- 7Helium Foot Software, Inc, Chicago, IL, United States.
- 8Department of Surgery, Surgical Implementation & Health Services Research, Biological Sciences Division, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
- 9Inspiration at Work, Chicago, IL, United States.
Abstract
Background
Unemployment has economic consequences and is associated with emotional distress and impairment. Joblessness is often associated with depression, leading to a vicious cycle of reduced drive to seek work, deepening financial stress, and worsening depression. Few scalable interventions exist that integrate job-search strategies with cognitive behavioral techniques.Objective
The study aimed to determine the efficacy of a Distress-Informed Return-to-Work Intervention (DRIVEN). The primary hypothesis was that DRIVEN would be more efficacious than the control condition in improving job-search behavior. Secondary analyses examined job attainment, depression, and positive affect.Methods
A randomized controlled trial was conducted from August 2023 to September 2024. Assessments were at baseline, weeks 1 through 6, and 8 and 16 weeks postintervention. Participants were a nationwide sample of unemployed job seekers aged 18 years or older who had never earned more than US $100,000 in a year. Participants received either (1) DRIVEN, which included 6 weeks of cognitive behavioral exercises in a mobile app combined with three 1-hour coaching sessions over videoconference or (2) emailed articles containing job-search advice. Primary outcome measures were subscales of a modified Job Search Behavior Scale (preparatory and active job search). Secondary outcomes included job attainment and mental health outcomes.Results
Participants were a nationwide sample (N=126; mean age 33.6, SD 6.6 y), including 62 (49.2%) females. During the acute treatment phase, mixed-effects linear models showed that for DRIVEN, preparatory job-search behavior increased by an estimated 0.053 (95% CI 0.031-0.076) units per day from baseline, which was a larger effect than in the control condition (0.011, 95% CI -0.011 to 0.033 units per day; P=.008). Active job-search behavior increased by 0.061 (95% CI 0.038-0.084) units per day from baseline, which was significantly larger than in the control group (point estimate: 0.025, 95% CI 0.001-0.047; P=.03). Depression decreased more in the DRIVEN group vs control (DRIVEN point estimate=-0.214, 95% CI -0.255 to -0.172 vs control group point estimate=-0.122, 95% CI -0.163 to -0.081; P=.002), and participants were more likely to get a job in the DRIVEN group (68.3% vs 50.8%; P=.046). Self-report outcomes did not significantly differ during the follow-up periods.Conclusions
DRIVEN was superior to emailed job-search advice for the primary outcome (job-search behavior) and secondary outcomes (job attainment, depression, and positive affect). This intervention may be beneficial for distressed unemployed individuals seeking work.
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BibTeX
@article{griffith2026coaching,
title = {{Job Coaching and Smartphone-Based Cognitive Behavioral Techniques for Returning to Work and Coping With Unemployment (DRIVEN): Randomized Controlled Trial.}},
author = {James W Griffith and Allison M Letkiewicz and Mystie L Saturday and Andrea K Graham and Keith Alperin and Elizabeth C Danielson and Alexandra Levit and Stewart A Shankman},
journal = {Journal of medical Internet research},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.2196/90873},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953951},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Job Coaching and Smartphone-Based Cognitive Behavioral Techniques for Returning to Work and Coping With Unemployment (DRIVEN): Randomized Controlled Trial.
AU - James W Griffith
AU - Allison M Letkiewicz
AU - Mystie L Saturday
AU - Andrea K Graham
AU - Keith Alperin
AU - Elizabeth C Danielson
AU - Alexandra Levit
AU - Stewart A Shankman
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Journal of medical Internet research
DO - 10.2196/90873
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953951
AB - Background Unemployment has economic consequences and is associated with emotional distress and impairment. Joblessness is often associated with depression, leading to a vicious cycle of reduced drive to seek work, deepening financial stress, and worsening depression. Few scalable interventions exist that integrate job-search strategies with cognitive behavioral techniques.Objective The study aimed to determine the efficacy of a Distress-Informed Return-to-Work Intervention (DRIVEN). The primary hypothesis was that DRIVEN would be more efficacious than the control condition in improving job-search behavior. Secondary analyses examined job attainment, depression, and positive affect.Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted from August 2023 to September 2024. Assessments were at baseline, weeks 1 through 6, and 8 and 16 weeks postintervention. Participants were a nationwide sample of unemployed job seekers aged 18 years or older who had never earned more than US $100,000 in a year. Participants received either (1) DRIVEN, which included 6 weeks of cognitive behavioral exercises in a mobile app combined with three 1-hour coaching sessions over videoconference or (2) emailed articles containing job-search advice. Primary outcome measures were subscales of a modified Job Search Behavior Scale (preparatory and active job search). Secondary outcomes included job attainment and mental health outcomes.Results Participants were a nationwide sample (N=126; mean age 33.6, SD 6.6 y), including 62 (49.2%) females. During the acute treatment phase, mixed-effects linear models showed that for DRIVEN, preparatory job-search behavior increased by an estimated 0.053 (95% CI 0.031-0.076) units per day from baseline, which was a larger effect than in the control condition (0.011, 95% CI -0.011 to 0.033 units per day; P=.008). Active job-search behavior increased by 0.061 (95% CI 0.038-0.084) units per day from baseline, which was significantly larger than in the control group (point estimate: 0.025, 95% CI 0.001-0.047; P=.03). Depression decreased more in the DRIVEN group vs control (DRIVEN point estimate=-0.214, 95% CI -0.255 to -0.172 vs control group point estimate=-0.122, 95% CI -0.163 to -0.081; P=.002), and participants were more likely to get a job in the DRIVEN group (68.3% vs 50.8%; P=.046). Self-report outcomes did not significantly differ during the follow-up periods.Conclusions DRIVEN was superior to emailed job-search advice for the primary outcome (job-search behavior) and secondary outcomes (job attainment, depression, and positive affect). This intervention may be beneficial for distressed unemployed individuals seeking work.
SN - 1439-4456
SN - 1438-8871
ER -