Using a Mobile App to Address Student Loneliness Among College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Oregon
- Enrollment
- 221
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Condition differences in self-reported loneliness
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this trial is to assess the effects of a positive psychology and CBT-based skills intervention-delivered through a mobile app called Nod-on loneliness and other mental health and institutional satisfaction outcomes. The primary outcome is self-reported loneliness at 2 and 4-weeks post baseline.
Detailed Description
This study is a pilot eight-week randomized controlled intervention. It employs a "waitlist" control strategy for the first 4 weeks of the study (considered to be the active study period).
Randomization will be to one of two conditions:
- Experimental group: Immediate access to the Nod app
- Waitlist control group: Participants will be granted access to the app four weeks after the experimental group
Assessments will occur at baseline, 2, 4, and 8 weeks follow up. Assessments will include measures of loneliness, and other mental health and institutional satisfaction measures listed in the secondary outcome measures section.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 25 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Incoming college first years
- •Live away from home without parents/guardians upon beginning college
- •Read English
- •Between 18 and 25 years of age
- •Own a smartphone
Exclusion Criteria
- •Do not read English
- •Under 18 years of age
- •Over 25 years of age
- •Do not own a smartphone
Arms & Interventions
Experimental-Immediate Access to the Nod app
The experimental group will have immediate access to all content in the Nod app and will be free to engage with it as much or as little as they like for four weeks. They will retain access to the Nod app for an additional four weeks.
Intervention: Loneliness Intervention (Behavioral)
Waitlist Control-Delayed Access to the Nod app
The waitlist control group will have full access to the Nod app approximately four weeks after the experimental group gains access.
Intervention: Loneliness Intervention (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Condition differences in self-reported loneliness
Time Frame: 4-weeks post baseline
Total score on the UCLA-8. Scores range from 8-32, higher scores indicate worse depression.
Condition differences in self-reported loneliness
Time Frame: 2-weeks post baseline
Total score on the UCLA-8. Scores range from 8-32, higher scores indicate worse depression.
Secondary Outcomes
- Depressive symptoms(2 and 4 weeks post baseline)
- Social Anxiety(2 and 4 weeks post baseline)
- Self-reported intention to remain enrolled at the University of Oregon in the next academic year(2 and 4 weeks post baseline)
- Anxiety(2 and 4 weeks post baseline)