scholarly journals Online suicide risk screening and intervention with college students: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 630-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl A. King ◽  
Daniel Eisenberg ◽  
Kai Zheng ◽  
Ewa Czyz ◽  
Anne Kramer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Risk Screening ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Suicide Risk Screening

scholarly journals Assessing the Efficacy and Acceptability of a Web-Based Intervention for Resilience Among College Students: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/20167 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. e20167
Author(s):  
Angel Enrique Roig ◽  
Olwyn Mooney ◽  
Alicia Salamanca-Sanabria ◽  
Chi Tak Lee ◽  
Simon Farrell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Waiting List ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Automated Support ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Background College students are at elevated risk for developing mental health problems and face specific barriers around accessing evidence-based treatment. Web-based interventions that focus on mental health promotion and strengthening resilience represent one possible solution. Providing support to users has shown to reduce dropout in these interventions. Further research is needed to assess the efficacy and acceptability of these interventions and explore the viability of automating support. Objective This study investigated the feasibility of a new web-based resilience program based on positive psychology, provided with human or automated support, in a sample of college students. Methods A 3-armed closed pilot randomized controlled trial design was used. Participants were randomized to the intervention with human support (n=29), intervention with automated support (n=26), or waiting list (n=28) group. Primary outcomes were resilience and well-being, respectively measured by the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale and Pemberton Happiness Index. Secondary outcomes included measures of depression and anxiety, self-esteem, and stress. Outcomes were self-assessed through online questionnaires. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were conducted. Results All participants demonstrated significant improvements in resilience and related outcomes, including an unexpected improvement in the waiting list group. Within- and between-group effect sizes ranged from small to moderate and within-group effects were typically larger for the human than automated support group. A total of 36 participants began the program and completed 46.46% of it on average. Participants were generally satisfied with the program and found it easy to use. Conclusions Findings support the feasibility of the intervention. Preliminary evidence for the equal benefit of human and automated support needs to be supported by further research with a larger sample. Results of this study will inform the development of a full-scale trial, from which stronger conclusions may be drawn. Trial Registration International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) 11866034; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN11866034 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1016/j.invent.2019.100254

scholarly journals Assessing the Efficacy and Acceptability of a Web-Based Intervention for Resilience Among College Students: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Enrique Roig ◽  
Olwyn Mooney ◽  
Alicia Salamanca-Sanabria ◽  
Chi Tak Lee ◽  
Simon Farrell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Waiting List ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Automated Support ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND College students are at elevated risk for developing mental health problems and face specific barriers around accessing evidence-based treatment. Web-based interventions that focus on mental health promotion and strengthening resilience represent one possible solution. Providing support to users has shown to reduce dropout in these interventions. Further research is needed to assess the efficacy and acceptability of these interventions and explore the viability of automating support. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the feasibility of a new web-based resilience program based on positive psychology, provided with human or automated support, in a sample of college students. METHODS A 3-armed closed pilot randomized controlled trial design was used. Participants were randomized to the intervention with human support (n=29), intervention with automated support (n=26), or waiting list (n=28) group. Primary outcomes were resilience and well-being, respectively measured by the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale and Pemberton Happiness Index. Secondary outcomes included measures of depression and anxiety, self-esteem, and stress. Outcomes were self-assessed through online questionnaires. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were conducted. RESULTS All participants demonstrated significant improvements in resilience and related outcomes, including an unexpected improvement in the waiting list group. Within- and between-group effect sizes ranged from small to moderate and within-group effects were typically larger for the human than automated support group. A total of 36 participants began the program and completed 46.46% of it on average. Participants were generally satisfied with the program and found it easy to use. CONCLUSIONS Findings support the feasibility of the intervention. Preliminary evidence for the equal benefit of human and automated support needs to be supported by further research with a larger sample. Results of this study will inform the development of a full-scale trial, from which stronger conclusions may be drawn. CLINICALTRIAL International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) 11866034; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN11866034 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.1016/j.invent.2019.100254

scholarly journals Smartphone App to Address Loneliness Among College Students: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Bruehlman-Senecal ◽  
Cayce J Hook ◽  
Jennifer H Pfeifer ◽  
Caroline FitzGerald ◽  
Brittany Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
College Adjustment ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Adjustment Outcomes

BACKGROUND Loneliness is a widespread and significant problem on college campuses. Prolonged loneliness in young adulthood is a risk factor for concurrent and future mental health problems and attrition, making college a critical time for support. Cognitive and behavioral interventions show promise for decreasing loneliness and can be widely disseminated through technology. OBJECTIVE This pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the initial efficacy, feasibility, and desirability of a smartphone app, Nod, designed to deliver cognitive and behavioral skill-building exercises to reduce loneliness during the transition to college. METHODS First-year college students (N=221, mean age 18.7 years, 59% female) were recruited online during incoming student orientation, and randomized to either receive immediate access to Nod (experimental group, n=100) or access after 4 weeks (control group, n=121). The app delivered skills via fully automated (1) “social challenges,” suggested activities designed to build social connections; (2) reflections, brief cognitive reframing exercises; and (3) student testimonials that encouraged a growth mindset toward social connection building. Main intention-to-treat analyses were used to compare the conditions on self-assessed loneliness, depressive symptoms, and other mental health and college adjustment outcomes at week 4, controlling for baseline values on those variables. Analyses were also performed to test the hypothesis that the treatment benefits would be particularly pronounced for participants with heightened psychological vulnerability at baseline (ie, higher baseline depressive symptoms and loneliness). RESULTS Retention was 97% at week 4, and participants viewed an average 36.7 pages of app content. There were no significant condition differences in loneliness at week 4 (<i>F</i><sub>1, 211</sub>=0.05, <i>P=</i>.82; η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> &lt;.001). However, there was a significant condition-by-baseline depression interaction to predict week-4 loneliness (<i>F</i><sub>1,209</sub>=9.65, <i>P=</i>.002; η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> =.04). Simple slope analyses indicated that baseline depression positively predicted week-4 loneliness among control participants (<i>r</i>=0.30, t<sub>209</sub>=3.81, <i>P</i>&lt;.001), but not among experimental participants (<i>r</i>=–0.09, t<sub>209</sub>=–0.84, <i>P</i>=.40), suggesting that Nod buffered participants with high baseline depression scores from experiencing heightened midquarter loneliness. Similarly, there were no significant condition differences in other week-4 outcomes. However, moderation by baseline vulnerability was found for week-4 depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and indices of college adjustment (eg, perceived social support and campus belonging). CONCLUSIONS Although Nod exposure did not impact outcomes for the full sample, these results provide initial evidence of its benefit for vulnerable students. The results of this trial suggest that cognitive and behavioral skills delivered via a mobile app can buffer psychologically vulnerable college students against heightened loneliness and depressive symptoms, as well as other negative college adjustment outcomes. Future work will aim to improve upon app engagement, and to address loneliness among other key populations. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04164654; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04164654

scholarly journals Smartphone App to Address Loneliness Among College Students: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/21496 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. e21496
Author(s):  
Emma Bruehlman-Senecal ◽  
Cayce J Hook ◽  
Jennifer H Pfeifer ◽  
Caroline FitzGerald ◽  
Brittany Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
College Adjustment ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Adjustment Outcomes

Background Loneliness is a widespread and significant problem on college campuses. Prolonged loneliness in young adulthood is a risk factor for concurrent and future mental health problems and attrition, making college a critical time for support. Cognitive and behavioral interventions show promise for decreasing loneliness and can be widely disseminated through technology. Objective This pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the initial efficacy, feasibility, and desirability of a smartphone app, Nod, designed to deliver cognitive and behavioral skill-building exercises to reduce loneliness during the transition to college. Methods First-year college students (N=221, mean age 18.7 years, 59% female) were recruited online during incoming student orientation, and randomized to either receive immediate access to Nod (experimental group, n=100) or access after 4 weeks (control group, n=121). The app delivered skills via fully automated (1) “social challenges,” suggested activities designed to build social connections; (2) reflections, brief cognitive reframing exercises; and (3) student testimonials that encouraged a growth mindset toward social connection building. Main intention-to-treat analyses were used to compare the conditions on self-assessed loneliness, depressive symptoms, and other mental health and college adjustment outcomes at week 4, controlling for baseline values on those variables. Analyses were also performed to test the hypothesis that the treatment benefits would be particularly pronounced for participants with heightened psychological vulnerability at baseline (ie, higher baseline depressive symptoms and loneliness). Results Retention was 97% at week 4, and participants viewed an average 36.7 pages of app content. There were no significant condition differences in loneliness at week 4 (F1, 211=0.05, P=.82; ηp2 <.001). However, there was a significant condition-by-baseline depression interaction to predict week-4 loneliness (F1,209=9.65, P=.002; ηp2 =.04). Simple slope analyses indicated that baseline depression positively predicted week-4 loneliness among control participants (r=0.30, t209=3.81, P<.001), but not among experimental participants (r=–0.09, t209=–0.84, P=.40), suggesting that Nod buffered participants with high baseline depression scores from experiencing heightened midquarter loneliness. Similarly, there were no significant condition differences in other week-4 outcomes. However, moderation by baseline vulnerability was found for week-4 depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and indices of college adjustment (eg, perceived social support and campus belonging). Conclusions Although Nod exposure did not impact outcomes for the full sample, these results provide initial evidence of its benefit for vulnerable students. The results of this trial suggest that cognitive and behavioral skills delivered via a mobile app can buffer psychologically vulnerable college students against heightened loneliness and depressive symptoms, as well as other negative college adjustment outcomes. Future work will aim to improve upon app engagement, and to address loneliness among other key populations. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04164654; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04164654

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