(PS2-13) Cultural Differences Between Tanzanian and US Based Psychologists in Their Beliefs About Exposure

Abstract Text: A unique CBT mentorship program was developed between advanced doctoral in a clinical PsyD program and psychologists from the country of Tanzania (TMP). In addition to weekly dyadic meetings, classes were offered on zoom to the Tanzanian psychologists. This study was designed to examine changes in Tanzanian therapists’ beliefs about exposure before and after two CBT classes for anxiety disorders and exposure therapy. We also wanted to examine whether the therapists’ changes in beliefs are related to the degree of their participation in TMP (e.g., number of classes they attended, number of consultation meetings they had with mentors). Lastly, we examined the correlation between therapists’ anxiety sensitivity and beliefs about exposure at baseline (i.e., before CBT classes)

Our research participants were 42 Tanzanian therapists who attended a class on CBT for anxiety disorders and/or a class on exposure therapy.

On the Therapist Beliefs about Exposure Scale (TBES):
For this sample, internal consistency ranged from Cronbach’s alpha value of .64 (before class, N=18) to .90 (after class; N=11). We need to think further about why we see low internal consistency of TBES before class (e.g., inaccurate response pattern? Random responding?) Comparing the TMP before class mean (38.18) to the U.S. mean (33.57) did not lead to a significant difference, p = .14, d = .48, 95% CI [-.16, 1.09]. This might be due to limited power. Comparison based on data of individuals with complete TMP data before class (M = 41.78, SD = 7.04) did show a significant difference from the U.S. mean (33.57), p < .001, d = 1.17 95% CI [.55, 1.76]. This suggests that Tanzanian therapists on average had more negative beliefs about exposure therapy than U.S. therapists at baseline. When comparing the TMP sample after-class TBES score to the U.S. therapists’ norm, there was no significant difference, p =. 81, d = -.08, 95% CI [-.67, .52]

On the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3):
Based on the current sample, internal consistency of ASI-3 is as follows. Cronbach’s alpha values are represented. To examine change in TBES and ASI-3 scores from before to after the CBT classes paired samples t-tests were conducted (N=11). There was a significant decrease in TBES scores from before (M=38.18, SD = 9.65) to after CBT classes (M=32.45, SD=14.56), Cohen’s d = .71, 95% CI [.03, 1.36]. There was no significant change in ASI-3 total or subscale scores from before to after CBT classes.

To evaluate whether TMP participation predicted the degree of change in TBES and ASI-3 scores was examined using difference scores which were calculated by subtracting pre (before class) scores from post (after class) scores for each of the measures/subscales.
Linear regression analyses were conducted with the number of TMP classes attended and the number of TMP consultation meetings as predictors for the difference scores as outcomes.
The number of TMP classes attended and the number of TMP consultation meetings had a positive, moderate to high correlation, r(14)=.68, p = .007.