Variables
depression, neuroticism, disability
Our study involves a comparison between two arms: the CBT plus UCT (CBT+UCT group) versus no intervention (control group). We used the ASB index developed by Blattman We assessed four possible mediators separately 2–5 weeks after the interventions were completed. These included indices of: (i) self-control, (ii) time preferences, (iii) executive function, and (iv) a variable combining all three mediators into one continuous index. The self-control variable was created using a series of Likert scale items exploring impulsiveness (N = 8), conscientiousness (N = 8), perseverance (N = 7) and reward responsiveness (N = 8) (a description of each subscale is available as supporting material). Time preferences assess the importance or value a person gives to receiving a good or cash at an earlier date compared with receiving it later, e.g., whether a person would prefer to receive a smaller amount of money now compared to a larger amount of money more in the future. We used a summary index of eight equally weighted components: four measures for patience and four measures for time inconsistency. A lower score indicates a preference to receive a good or cash earlier.Executive function was evaluated using three interactive activities drawn from economics and psychology, including: planning behavior, behavior inhibition and cognitive flexibility, and working memory. The overall summary index for each mediator is the standardized mean of its composite item. A global index was created by combining each mediator index into an equally weighted index of self-control, time preferences, and executive function (SCTPEF).Finally, as covariates we used the following baseline measures related to socioeconomic and health status: age, living with a partner, living with a person under 15 years, schooling (measured as the total number of years of formal education), having a disability, if the participant ever sold drugs, current drug use, and a mental health z-score index (i.e., an index based on several questions to evaluate depression and distress symptoms, neuroticism, self-esteem, and locus of control).