This study conducted a secondary analysis of data from a university-based health and wellness coaching program to investigate the difference in coach/client working alliance and psychosocial assets across three self-selected delivery modalities. Longitudinal data from 130 students who self-selected in-person (43.1%), video conferencing (32.3%), or audio-only coaching (24.6%) were utilized. Key variables included demographics, psychosocial assets (confidence, motivation, readiness for behavior change), and working alliance (autonomy, competence, relatedness). Compared to other modalities, a higher proportion of graduate students (47.6%) and older students ( M = 28.0, SD = 9.8) chose video coaching, and more gender-nonconforming students (12.5%) chose audio-only coaching. Participants reported increased confidence, motivation, and readiness for change over time with no differences by modality. For all modes, the strength of the coach/client relationship increased over time; in-person participants reported greater autonomy and competence. Findings support various modalities for fostering the working alliance and psychosocial assets fundamental for initiation and maintenance of health-related goals.
Bleck et al. (Fri,) studied this question.