Efficacy and Effectiveness of a Self-applied Online Program to Promote Resilience and Coping Skills in College Students

Efficacy and Effectiveness of a Self-applied Online Program to Promote Resilience and Coping Skills in University Students in Three Spanish-speaking Countries: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of this intervention protocol applied to three populations of Spanish-speaking university students (Spain, Argentina and Mexico). The purpose of this paper is to present the protocol designed to carry out the randomised controlled study (RCT).

This study is a multi-country randomized controlled trial (RCT) with three groups comparing efficacy of unguided Internet-based intervention for students low on resilience with three conditions: a) unguided web-based resilience intervention (CORE); 2) Healthy lifestyle psychoeducationalprogram (HLP); and 3) Care as usual condition (CAU). Online- and telephone assessments will be conducted at pre- and post-intervention, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up (see Figure 1). Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio. Randomization will be stratified according to trial site.

The aim of this trial is to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of an Internet-based programme developed to promote resilience and coping skills among at-risk university students in Spain, Argentina and Mexico. The specific aims are:

1. To provide a preventative online intervention for enhancing resilience for decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety and for increasing wellbeing
2. To evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of CORE program in a randomized controlled trial compared with two conditions, Healthy lifestyle (HTP) and care as usual (CAU).
3. To analyze feasible strategies to implement CORE and to identify possible implementation barriers from final users, professionals of University counseling services and the University authorities in three Spanish-speaking countries.

Inclusion Criteria:

• University students with a standard deviation score below the sample mean on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CDRISC-25).
• Adequate knowledge to understand and read Spanish and/or be Spanish-speaking.
• Internet access and computer skills.

Exclusion Criteria:

• University students who are on a waiting list for psychotherapy or who are or have been undergoing psychotherapy in the last 12 months.
• Individuals with a current or past psychotic or bipolar disorder.
• Individuals at risk of suicide.