Evaluation of a Transdiagnostic Mobile App Intervention Among University Students

Effectiveness and Uptake of a Transdiagnostic Emotion Regulation Mobile Intervention Among University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study is a two-armed randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed at evaluating the effectiveness and adoption of a transdiagnostic mobile app intervention that focuses is on enhancing adaptive emotional regulation (ER) skills among university students.

Globally, an estimated 30% of university students struggle with mental health issues, primarily anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Recent trends have highlighted the potential of online interventions for accessible, low-threshold support in preventing these issues among this demographic.

At Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), a transdiagnostic mobile app is being developed as part of a student wellbeing program. This app provides a range of tools aimed at improving mental health by teaching students adaptive emotional regulation strategies. It incorporates exercises from various therapeutic modalities, addressing factors like negative thoughts, rumination, and prolonged negative emotions. Delivered through a smartphone, the app includes 24 therapeutic exercises focusing on techniques such as enhancing positive emotions, mindfulness, cognitive defusion, cognitive restructuring, relaxation, breathing, and self-compassion.

The present study is a 12-week two-armed RCT study with outcomes assessed at the baseline, and three follow-ups at weeks 3, 8, and 12. It compares a group of distressed students with access to the mobile app intervention against a waitlist control group.

The main goal of the study is to assess the impact of the intervention on stress symptoms and emotional regulation skills. The secondary outcomes of the study, include an evaluation of the intervention's impact on depression, anxiety symptoms, and students' resilience levels. Lastly, the study examines the app's uptake, including engagement patterns and user experiences, and evaluates the real-life application of the skills learned through the app.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Willing to participate and provide informed consent
• Access to smartphone and internet
• Feels comfortable with English language for verbal and written communication and interaction with the app
• Scores <13 on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Scores >20 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
• Having a medical diagnosis of psychosis or bipolar disorder, severe clinical depression or anxiety disorder
• Undergoing psychopharmacological treatment or treatment with experimental drugs