Feasibility and Acceptability of a Working Alliance-Informed Digital Mental Health App for University Students: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Participants will take part in a 4-week study consisting of two in-person sessions. During the first session, participants will complete a demographic form and baseline questionnaire, after which the study application will be installed on their preferred device. A research team member will provide a brief introduction to the application, guide participants through the registration process, and schedule the second session. Participants will then be randomly assigned to one of two study conditions, with each group receiving a different version of the application's mental health content.

Over the following four weeks, participants may use the application freely and at their own discretion. The application will send weekly reminders based on participants' preferred day and time, but no further contact will be initiated by the research team unless participants require assistance or wish to withdraw. Depending on their assigned condition, participants will either access standard mental health content or content delivered through a virtual agent that introduces weekly themes and recommends resources based on individual interests. The application will automatically record user interactions, such as content viewed, duration of use, and navigation patterns, for research analysis.

At the end of the study period, participants will attend a second in-person session where they will complete a follow-up questionnaire and participate in a short semi-structured interview. The questionnaires and interview will assess participants' perceptions of the application, including therapeutic alliance, perceived usefulness, and intention to continue using it. The interview will also provide additional insights to help interpret participants' usage patterns and experiences with the application. Participants will receive compensation upon completion of the study.