Effectiveness of Magis - A Magical Adventure, a Therapeutic Mobile Game in enhancing Psychological Flexibility & Subjective, Academic & Behavioral wellbeing in Early Adolescents: A Quasi-Experimental Active Waitlist Controlled Study

The adolescent mental health is a growing concern with 13% of the population (WHO Factsheet 2021) accounting for psychological problems in this age group despite having several mental health initiatives. Psychological flexibility has emerged as a pivotal ingredient in psychological health as it captures the dynamic and situation-specific skills that are necessary in facing the day-to-day challenges of life. An individual with greater psychological flexibility will demonstrate healthier ways of coping with the changes and challenges of daily lives. Flexibly dealing with daily stressors prevent psychological distress that eventually prevents escalation of these stressful reactions to psychological illnesses. The study is thus aimed at enhancing psychological flexibility of adolescents at their formative age i.e. early adolescence that is strategic time for any habit forming interventions. If they are equipped with basic skills and knowledge to deal with life situations flexibly, the development of mental issues later in life can be significantly averted. In addition, gamification of interventions are of specific relevance in this age group considering their acceptability, engagement and absorption of the information and skills imparted. Thus, Magis-A Magical Adventure which is a therapeutic game based on Acceptance and commitment therapy aiming to enhance psychological flexibility will be tested for its effectiveness in the study with a purpose to unravel the efficient yet acceptable intervention promoting positive mental health among adolescents. 

Study Hypotheses:

Ha1: There is a significant difference in the levels of psychological flexibility; subjective, academic and behavioural well-being, post-intervention, among the adolescents in the experimental group, when compared to those in the control group, who do not receive the intervention.

Ha2:There is a significant difference in the pre and post-intervention levels of psychological flexibility, subjective well-being, academic and behavioural well-being, among the early adolescents in the experimental and waitlist-control groups.