Effectiveness of an Internet- and App-Based Intervention for College Students With Elevated Stress: Randomized Controlled Trial

Publikation: Beiträge in ZeitschriftenZeitschriftenaufsätzeForschungbegutachtet

Authors

  • Mathias Harrer
  • Sophia Helen Adam
  • Rebecca Jessica Fleischmann
  • Harald Baumeister
  • Randy Auerbach
  • Ronny Bruffaerts
  • Pim Cuijpers
  • Ronald C. Kessler
  • Matthias Berking
  • Dirk Lehr
  • David Daniel Ebert

Background: Mental health problems are highly prevalent among college students. Most students with poor mental health, however, do not receive professional help. Internet-based self-help formats may increase the utilization of treatment. Objective: The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy of an internet-based, app-supported stress management intervention for college students. Methods: College students (n=150) with elevated levels of stress (Perceived Stress Scale 4-item version, PSS-4 =8) were randomly assigned to either an internet- and mobile-based stress intervention group with feedback on demand or a waitlist control group. Self-report data were assessed at baseline, posttreatment (7 weeks), and 3-month follow-up. The primary outcome was perceived stress posttreatment (PSS-4). Secondary outcomes included mental health outcomes, modifiable risk and protective factors, and college-related outcomes. Subgroup analyses were conducted in students with clinically relevant symptoms of depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies' Depression Scale >17). Results: A total of 106 participants (76.8%) indicated that they were first-time help-seekers, and 77.3% (intervention group: 58/75; waitlist control group: 58/75) showed clinically relevant depressive symptoms at baseline. Findings indicated significant effects of the intervention compared with the waitlist control group for stress (d=0.69; 95% CI 0.36-1.02), anxiety (d=0.76; 95% CI 0.43-1.09), depression (d=0.63; 95% CI 0.30-0.96), college-related productivity (d=0.33; 95% CI 0.01-0.65), academic work impairment (d=0.34; 95% CI 0.01-0.66), and other outcomes after 7 weeks (posttreatment). Response rates for stress symptoms were significantly higher for the intervention group (69%, 52/75) compared with the waitlist control group (35%, 26/75, P<.001; number needed to treat=2.89, 95% CI 2.01-5.08) at posttest (7 weeks). Effects were sustained at 3-month follow-up, and similar findings emerged in students with symptoms of depression. Conclusions: Internet- and mobile-based interventions could be an effective and cost-effective approach to reduce consequences of college-related stress and might potentially attract students with clinically relevant depression who would not otherwise seek help. Trial Registration: German Clinical Trial Register DRKS00010212; http://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do? navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00010212 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6w55Ewhjd).

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummere136
ZeitschriftJournal of Medical Internet Research
Jahrgang20
Ausgabenummer4
Anzahl der Seiten16
ISSN1439-4456
DOIs
PublikationsstatusErschienen - 23.04.2018

Bibliographische Notiz

Publisher Copyright:
© Mathias Harrer, Sophia Helen Adam, Rebecca Jessica Fleischmann, Harald Baumeister, Randy Auerbach, Ronny Bruffaerts, Pim Cuijpers, Ronald C Kessler, Matthias Berking, Dirk Lehr, David Daniel Ebert.

Dokumente

DOI

Zuletzt angesehen

Publikationen

  1. The impact of key audit matter (KAM) disclosure in audit reports on stakeholders’ reactions
  2. Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung
  3. Calling and career preparation
  4. Edward Lear, A book of nonsense
  5. Modeling Turning Points In Global Equity Market
  6. Performativity, performance studies and digital cultures
  7. Future work
  8. Changing learning environments at university?
  9. Explaining age and gender differences in employment rates
  10. Mechanisms behind elevational plant species richness patterns revealed by a trait-based approach
  11. 2D QSAR of PPARγ agonist binding and transactivation.
  12. Komparative studier i børnelitterature
  13. The Relationship between Stakeholder Theory and Corporate Social Responsibility: Differences, Similarities, and Implications for Social Issues in Management
  14. Die Unterwerfung
  15. A new and benign hegemon on the horizon?
  16. A target costing approach to developing an online distribution channel
  17. Radicalisation of ‘lone actors’
  18. Healthier and Sustainable Food Systems: Integrating Underutilised Crops in a ‘Theory of Change Approach’
  19. Dynamicland
  20. Non-audit fees of the external auditor, audit committees and earnings quality : An empirical analysis of German (non) listed firms
  21. Theorising the dynamics of collaborative consumption practices
  22. Functional domains of business incubators for refugee entrepreneurs
  23. Can radicals get a seat on the negotiation table? A Dynamic Perspective on Legitimation Processes.
  24. The effectiveness of interventions during and after residence in women’s shelters
  25. The Career Engagement Scale: Development and validation of a measure of proactive career behaviors
  26. § 44 VwGO (Objektive Klagehäufung)
  27. Der extrovertierte Rechtstaat
  28. Integrative Management of Sustainability Performance, Measurement and Reporting
  29. Ideological Stances in Yoruba Nation Secessionist Discourse in Nigerian Virtual Communities
  30. Students' Time Allocation and School Performance
  31. Effect of Deformation Speed on Stress Corrosion and Fracture Toughness of Extruded Mg10Dy and Mg10Dy1Nd Using C-Ring Tests
  32. Development from the Margins
  33. New methods for the analysis of links between international firm activities and firm performance
  34. Beyond the “local”
  35. Das Langzeitpraktikum in Corona-Zeiten
  36. Cycling at varying load
  37. The effects of pre-intervention mindset induction on a brief intervention to increase risk perception and reduce alcohol use among university students