Filling the mental service gap on campus: an effectiveness trial testing the utility of app-based mindfulness psychological intervention for college students

Abstract

The number of students reporting mental health problems has been increasing, and university counseling centers are struggling to fill the mental health service gap. Telepsychological services such as app-based interventions have been proposed as viable alternatives; however, research on their effectiveness is insufficient. This study tested the effectiveness of an app-based intervention for college students on comprehensive indicators of mental health (depression, anxiety, stress, positive affect, and satisfaction with life) in a real-world setting. A total of 352 Korean undergraduates were initially enrolled and randomly allocated to either an intervention (four-week app-based intervention) or control (waitlist) group. Finally, the data of 185 students (intervention group, n = 91; control group, n = 94) were analyzed (attrition rate, 43%). The intervention group demonstrated improved mental health for all outcomes compared with the control group. When symptom severity was considered, participants with moderate-severe depression or anxiety symptoms at baseline displayed a greater reduction in symptoms than participants with mild symptoms. Our results suggest that app-supported interventions can serve as feasible and effective measures to satisfy the mental health needs of college students, even for those with considerable subclinical levels of depression and anxiety.