PERMA-Based Mobile Psychological Intervention With and Without Telephone Support for University Students

Efficacy of a Positive Psychology-Based Psychological Intervention Grounded in the PERMA Model Delivered Via Smartphone App, With and Without Telephone Multiconference Support, for the Promotion of Psychological Well-Being in University Students

University students face increasing academic and psychosocial demands that place them at risk of reduced psychological well-being. Positive psychology interventions have demonstrated efficacy in promoting mental health; however, few are grounded explicitly in Seligman's PERMA model and adherence to digital interventions remains limited. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a brief PERMA-based psychological intervention delivered via a smartphone application, with and without supplementary telephone multiconference support, compared to a waiting list control group. The intervention consists of five weekly modules targeting Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and at six-month follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being an actively enrolled university student at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC)
• Having access to a smartphone with an internet connection.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having a current diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with psychotic features, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe cognitive impairment, dissociative disorders, or active substance dependence
• Having started psychological or psychopharmacological treatment within the two months prior to the study or participating in another mental health-related study
• Having insufficient proficiency in Spanish, or presenting sensory, cognitive, or physical impairments that would prevent engagement with the intervention
• Planning to move out of Galicia within the next 12 months.