Measuring the effectiveness of brief web-based acceptance and commitment therapy to improve psychological well-being in college students
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN12086191 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12086191 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | N/A |
- Submission date
- 11/06/2016
- Registration date
- 19/06/2016
- Last edited
- 22/09/2017
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
The college years are often though of as being a carefree time in a young person’s life, however, research suggests that attending university for the first time can also cause a person a great deal of stress. Wellness or other support programs for students are one way that universities are trying to prevent and alleviate psychological (mental) distress, but most of these programs focus on physical methods such as exercise or relaxation over other techniques which focus more directly on mental health. A possible approach which could be effective is using an internet-based programme to deliver treatment (online interventions). Online interventions are through to be a good part of a university wellbeing programme since it is cost-effective and doesn't trigger the negative judgement of others (stigmatisation), as it would be available to all without pre-identifying those at risk of mental health problems. This study will look at a type of therapy called acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). ACT is is a type of taking therapy which uses acceptance and mindfulness (a way of observing experiences in the present moment, without judgment) strategies, together with commitment and behaviour change strategies, to help a person to deal with difficult situations they may face. The aim of this study is to find out whether an internet-based ACT programme could have a positive impact on the mental health of undergraduate students.
Who can participate?
Healthy university or college students aged 18 years and over.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group listen to three ACT mindfulness-based recordings at least once a week for three weeks. The recordings vary in length but all last for less than 30 minutes. Those in the second group are placed on a waiting list and continue as normal during the study period. At the start of the study and then again one week after the first group has completed the programme and three weeks later, participants in both groups complete a number of online questionnaires about their mental wellbeing. Following this, participants in the waiting list group are given access to the ACT mindfulness programme.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants who take part in the ACT mindfulness programme may benefit from an improvement to their general mental health. There are no notable risks involved with participating in this study.
Where is the study run from?
University College Dublin (Ireland)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
December 2012 to June 2013
Who is funding the study?
University College Dublin (Ireland)
Who is the main contact?
Miss Sinead Hartley
sinead.hartley@ucdconnect.ie
Contact information
Public
School of Psychology
UCD College of Human Sciences
F220 Newman building
University College Dublin
Belfield
Dublin
4
Ireland
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-6402-5440 |
|---|
Study information
| Study design | Single-centre wait-list randomised controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Internet/virtual |
| Study type | Quality of life |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet. |
| Scientific title | A randomised controlled trial of brief web-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on the psychological well-being of college students |
| Study acronym | ACT |
| Study objectives | The aim of this study is to provide preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of a brief web-based ACT intervention that targets mindfulness (using the ACT mindfulness components: contact with the present moment, acceptance, cognitive defusion, and self as context), on the mental health of college students. Hypothesis: The ACT intervention will show superior effects in increasing general mental health, and in reducing psychological distress, compared with a waiting list as a control group. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Taught Graduate Research Ethics Committee - School of Psychology, University College Dublin, 15/01/2013 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Psychological well-being |
| Intervention | Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Treatment group: Participants are required to listen to a sequence of three online ACT mindfulness-based audios at least once over a three-week period. The first exercise, “Awareness of breathing” (23 minutes), aims to promote the on-going non-judgmental contact with psychological and environmental events as they arise. The second ACT mindfulness exercise, “Leaves on a stream” (13 minutes), encourages a non-judgemental approach to the language of thoughts, and targeted acceptance. The third audio, “The observing self” (16 minutes), targets self-concepts and conceptualisations of self. Wait-list control group: Participants continue as usual for the duration of the three-week intervention. Participants are given access to an identical treatment condition after the experimental group has concluded the study (three weeks post-intervention). One week following the intervention, all study participants are emailed and asked to complete post-treatment questionnaires (GHQ-12, DASS-21, AAQ-II) via a direct link. Three week follow-up questionnaires (GHQ-12, DASS-21, AAQ-II) are administered via an emailed direct link to all participants once post-treatment measures are completed. Participation in the study is concluded for those in the treatment condition once 3-week follow-up responses are received. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure | Psychological well-being is measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) at baseline, one week post-intervention and three weeks follow up. |
| Secondary outcome measures | Psychological Distress is measured using the depression, anxiety and stress subscales of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) at baseline, one week post-intervention and three weeks follow up. |
| Overall study start date | 01/12/2012 |
| Completion date | 01/06/2013 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Healthy volunteer |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | Participants are 113 adults aged 18 years or over (M: 25.06; SD: 10.06) with a male to female ratio of 24:89. An initial sample of 224 people was assessed for eligibility and 50 (22%) were excluded. A further 61 participants (35%) withdrew or did not respond following randomisation. |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged 18 and over 2. Currently registered as a university or college student 3. No formal diagnosis of mental health disorders 4. No previous experience of mindfulness or mindfulness-based exercises 5. Computer literate |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Any previous formal diagnoses of mental health disorders 2. Any previous experience of mindfulness or mindfulness-based exercises 3. Less than 18 years of age 4. Not currently registered as a university or college student (i.e. at third-level education) |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/02/2013 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/05/2013 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Ireland
Study participating centre
Dublin
4
Ireland
Sponsor information
University/education
School of Psychology
Newman Building
Belfield
Dublin
4
Ireland
| Website | http://www.ucd.ie/psychology |
|---|---|
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/05m7pjf47 |
Funders
Funder type
University/education
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 31/12/2016 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in the journal BMC Psychology. |
| IPD sharing plan |
Editorial Notes
22/09/2017: Internal review
