Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a Web-Based Self-Help Program for College Students

Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of Web-Based Self-Help Program on Repetitive Negative Thinking for College Students: A Randomized Pilot Study

The goal of this pilot study is to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the repetitive negative thinking (RNT) focused web-based self-help program in college students. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does the program work without any help of a clinician?
• Does the program have any reducing effect on the participants' RNT, depression, anxiety, stress and cognitive fusion scores? - Does the program help participants to improve their psychological flexibility and committed actions? Participants will be administered a set of questionnaires before and after completing the 10-day long web-based self-help program, provided on a daily basis. Researchers will compare the intervention group with a waitlist control group to assess for any potential placebo effect.

After obtaining informed consent, all participants will receive a set of questionnaires for baseline measurement. Participants will be randomized into two groups using block randomization: one as the intervention group and the other as the control group (waitlist condition). This method helps ensure an equal distribution of participants with similar characteristics in both groups, minimizing potential biases and increasing the validity of the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• having internet connection and a working smart phone or computer

Exclusion Criteria:

• having thoughts of self-harm or suicide,
• diagnosed with psychotic disorder,
• substance abuse
• currently receiving psychological help