MedPath

International Students Intervention

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Social Isolation
Interventions
Behavioral: Synchronous Intervention
Behavioral: Asynchronous Intervention
Registration Number
NCT04945902
Lead Sponsor
Purdue University
Brief Summary

The proposed project aims to provide international students on F-1, J-1, or M-1 visas at Purdue additional culturally-relevant support by implementing and testing a psychosocial intervention. The intervention was designed based on the results of a recently published research study (Bhojwani et al., 2020) about international student concerns and needs in the time of COVID-19. This intervention is designed to test the effectiveness of a strengths-based intervention that targets the particular needs of international students during COVID. The intervention was designed based on evidence-based Cognitive-Behavioral and Systemic Therapy (Jafar et. al, 2016; Saravanan et. al., 2017) approaches to addressing stress and anxiety in a culturally-relevant manner and to decrease social isolation.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
77
Inclusion Criteria
  • International students who report being on J-1, F-1, or M-1 visas
  • Currently enrolled in classes at Purdue at either the undergraduate or graduate level either remotely or in-person
  • 18 years or older
Exclusion Criteria

• active suicidality and/or homicidality

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Synchronous GroupSynchronous InterventionIf you are assigned to the synchronous intervention group, you will be required to complete the asynchronous interventions on Brightspace AND attend a weekly one-hour support group. These support groups will meet virtually using a restricted WebEx channel and will be recorded. In this support group, students will discuss the weekly activities and build connections and support with each other. This group will be led by advanced doctoral students in counseling psychology and overseen by a counseling psychology faculty member, who is also a licensed psychologist.
Asynchronous GroupAsynchronous InterventionThe asynchronous intervention will provide access to information and resources for mental health support via Brightspace. The intervention will be six weeks long and each week will have a topic. The weekly topics include (1) identifying feelings; (2) biology of emotions; (3) mindfulness; (4) recognizing and responding to stress; (5) mental health stigma; and (6) self-care/self-advocacy. Each week, you will be required to complete four types of activities: education, reflective exercises, an activity, and a short assessment. All of these resources will be provided on Brightspace to be completed on your own time but the activities must be completed during the week they are assigned. You will not have to interact with other international students if you are in the asynchronous intervention group.
Synchronous GroupAsynchronous InterventionIf you are assigned to the synchronous intervention group, you will be required to complete the asynchronous interventions on Brightspace AND attend a weekly one-hour support group. These support groups will meet virtually using a restricted WebEx channel and will be recorded. In this support group, students will discuss the weekly activities and build connections and support with each other. This group will be led by advanced doctoral students in counseling psychology and overseen by a counseling psychology faculty member, who is also a licensed psychologist.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from Baseline of DASC-21 scores to Post-intervention6 weeks

DASC-21 assesses depression and anxiety symptoms, average scores will be used \[range 0-3\], with higher scores indicating worse outcome

Change from Baseline of CCAPS-34 scores to 10 weeks10 weeks

CCAPS-34 assesses seven domains of psychological symptoms salient to college students, average scores will be used \[range 0-4\], with higher scores indicating worse outcome

Change from Baseline of DASC-21 scores to 10-weeks10 weeks

DASC-21 assesses depression and anxiety symptoms, average scores will be used \[range 0-3\], with higher scores indicating worse outcome

Change from Baseline of CCAPS-34 scores to Post-intervention6 weeks

CCAPS-34 assesses seven domains of psychological symptoms salient to college students, average scores will be used \[range 0-4\], with higher scores indicating worse outcome

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Group Session Rating Scale (GSRS)weekly for 6 weeks

GSRS is only administered for the intervention synchronous group, range from 1 to 10, with higher scores indicating better group cohesion

Campus Climatethrough the study completion, an average of 10 weeks

Adapted from Glass, C. R. (2012). with 6 items to measure students' connection with the university specifically, range 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating better campus climate

Social Connectedness Scale (SCS)through the study completion, an average of 10 weeks

SCS assesses indivividuals' social connectedness, range from 1 to 6, reverse coded with higher scores indicating better outcome

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Purdue University

🇺🇸

West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

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