IJobs - an Internet Intervention for the Unemployed

NCT05962554 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: RCT iJobs
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 176
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The current study aims to test the efficacy of iJobs, an online intervention for the unemployed. iJobs is an online adaptation of the JOBS program.

Conditions

Unemployment

Keywords

iJobs

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Participants' self-efficacy regarding the job search process

  The Job Search Self-Efficacy Scale (20-item) measures participants' perception of their ability to gain employment. The minimum score is 20 and the maximum is 100. A higher score means a better outcome (increased job search self-efficacy).

  Change from baseline to post-intervention and follow-up (approximately 2 weeks and 6 weeks)

• Participants' job search intensity and effort

  The investigators will use a version of Blau's Job-search behaviors scale adapted to the contemporary context and Romanian population. The scale measures participants' involvement in job search activities in terms of frequency and intensity. The minimum score is 16 and the maximum is 80. A higher score means a better outcome (increased job search behavior effort).

  Change from baseline to post-intervention and follow-up (approximately 2 weeks and 6 weeks)

• The quality of participants' job search behaviors

  The Job search quality scale has 20 items and measures the quality in which the job search behaviors are performed. The minimum score is 20 and the maximum is 100. A higher score means a better outcome (increased job search quality).

  Change from baseline to post-intervention and follow-up (approximately 2 weeks and 6 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Participants' ability to deal with setbacks in the job search process

  Change from baseline to post-intervention (approximately 2 weeks)

• Participants' overall self-esteem

  Change from baseline to post-intervention (approximately 2 weeks)

• Participants' anxiety regarding their future career

  Change from baseline to post-intervention (approximately 2 weeks)

• Generalised Anxiety symptoms

  Change from baseline to post-intervention (approximately 2 weeks)

• Depression symptoms

  Change from baseline to post-intervention (approximately 2 weeks)

Other Outcomes (7)

• Physical health

  Baseline only

• Treatment adherence

  Post-intervention only (approximately 2 weeks)

• Satisfaction with the intervention

  Post-intervention only (approximately 2 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

The group that will be first randomly allocated to iJobs.

Behavioral: iJobs

Waiting list control group

EXPERIMENTAL

This group will receive the intervention 2-weeks after the intervention group finishes it.

Behavioral: iJobs

Interventions

iJobs BEHAVIORAL

iJobs is a 2-week intervention consisting of 5 modules focusing on discovering job skills, job search strategies, preparing effective resumes, exercising different types of interviews, and overcoming setbacks in the job search process. This is an adaptation of the JOBS program.

Intervention group; Waiting list control group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Unemployed and looking for a job
• Work as volunteers and are looking for a paid job
• Have a PC or laptop and basic digital competencies

You may not qualify if:

• They don't have internet access and are not available during the two weeks of the program

Sponsors & Collaborators

• West University of Timisoara: lead

Study Sites (1)

West University of Timisoara

Timișoara, 300223, Romania

Location

Related Publications (16)

• Bangor, A., Kortum, P. & Miller, J. (2009). Determining what individual SUS scores mean: adding an adjective rating scale. Journal of Usability Studies, 4(3), 114-123.

  BACKGROUND

• Bodnaru, A., Rusu, A., Blonk, R., Vîrgă, D., Iliescu, D., & Van den Broeck, A. (2023, May 4). Bodnaru_et_al_preprint. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/tdseq

  BACKGROUND

• Blau, G. (1994). Testing a two-dimensional measure of job search behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 59, 288-312. https://doi.org/10.1006/obhd.1994.1061

  BACKGROUND

• Curran, J., Wishart, P., & Gingrich, J. (1999). JOBS: A manual for teaching people successful job search strategies. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research, Michigan Prevention Research Center.

  BACKGROUND

• Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Sep;16(9):606-13. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x.

  PMID: 11556941 BACKGROUND

• Rosenberg, M. (1979). Conceiving the Self. New York, NY: Basic Books.

  BACKGROUND

• Saks, A.M., Zikic, J., & Koen, J. (2015). Job search self-efficacy: Reconceptualizing the construct and its measurement. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 86, 104-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2014.11.007

  BACKGROUND

• Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB, Lowe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006 May 22;166(10):1092-7. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092.

  PMID: 16717171 BACKGROUND

• Tsai C.T., Hsu H., Hsu Y.C. (2017). Tourism and hospitality college students' career anxiety: Scale development and validation. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 29(4), 158-165. https://doi.org/10.1080/10963758.2017.1382365

  BACKGROUND

• Van Hooft, E.A.J., Van Hoye, G., & Van den Hee, S.M. (2022). How to Optimize the Job Search Process: Development and Validation of the Job Search Quality Scale. Journal of Career Assessment, 30(3), 474-505. https://doi.org/10.1177/10690727211052812

  BACKGROUND

• Virga D, De Witte H, Cifre E. The Role of Perceived Employability, Core Self-Evaluations, and Job Resources on Health and Turnover Intentions. J Psychol. 2017 Oct 3;151(7):632-645. doi: 10.1080/00223980.2017.1372346. Epub 2017 Oct 6.

  PMID: 28985167 BACKGROUND

• Vîrga, D. & Rusu, A. (2018). Core self-evaluations, job search behaviour and health complaints. The mediating role of job search self-efficacy. Career Development International, 23(3), 261-273. https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-11-2017-0208

  BACKGROUND

• Vuori, J., & Vinokur, A.D. (2005). Job-search preparedness as a mediator of the effects of the Tyohon Job Search Intervention on re-employment and mental health. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 26(3), 275-291. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.308

  BACKGROUND

• Lorenz T, Beer C, Putz J, Heinitz K. Measuring Psychological Capital: Construction and Validation of the Compound PsyCap Scale (CPC-12). PLoS One. 2016 Apr 1;11(4):e0152892. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152892. eCollection 2016.

  PMID: 27035437 BACKGROUND

• Berwick DM, Murphy JM, Goldman PA, Ware JE Jr, Barsky AJ, Weinstein MC. Performance of a five-item mental health screening test. Med Care. 1991 Feb;29(2):169-76. doi: 10.1097/00005650-199102000-00008.

  PMID: 1994148 BACKGROUND

• Bodnaru A, Rusu A, Virga D, Van den Broeck A, Blonk RWB, Tranca LM, Iliescu D. Efficacy of the iJobs Web-Based Psychoeducational Intervention to Improve Job Search Behavior and Promote Mental Health Among Unemployed People: Protocol for a Waitlist Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2024 May 8;13:e55374. doi: 10.2196/55374.

  PMID: 38717812 DERIVED

Study Officials

• Andrei Rusu

  West University of Timisoara

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: The two independent groups (intervention vs. waiting list control group) will be crossed with three measurement times (i.e., baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up). Hence, the design will be a 2 (intervention vs. control) X 3 (baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up) factorial design.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 19, 2023
• First Posted: July 27, 2023
• Study Start: June 6, 2023
• Primary Completion: October 2, 2024
• Study Completion: November 2, 2024
• Last Updated: April 2, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

RO (1)