Effects of Self-Efficacy Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMA) App
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- The New School
- Enrollment
- 93
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- General Self-Efficacy
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This "SeApp" study aims to test a self-efficacy Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) in healthy students in the context of COVID-19. EMIs are mostly smartphone-based applications that deliver interventions to people while being engaged in their daily life activities. The app harnesses the power of self-efficacy autobiographical memories (e.g. problem-solving memories, memories of success).
Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) are also incorporated into the study to capture individuals' feelings, affect, and behavior in real time.
Clarification added [September 2025]: The record previously showed an incorrect estimated enrollment due to a data entry error. The planned enrollment for this trial was 93, consistent with comparable prior studies, and enrollment was closed when 93 participants had been enrolled.
Detailed Description
This "SeApp" study aims to test a self-efficacy Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) in healthy students in the context of COVID-19. EMIs are mostly smartphone-based applications that deliver interventions to people while being engaged in their daily life activities. The app harnesses the power of self-efficacy autobiographical memories (e.g. problem-solving memories, memories of success).
Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) are also incorporated into the study to capture individuals' feelings, affect, and behavior in real time.
Developed by psychologist Dr. Albert Bandura in 1977, the concept of self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability to perform the necessary actions to manage particular situations. Bandura's theory highlights four major components of self-efficacy, including mastery experiences, socialmodeling, social persuasion, and psychological responses. The app tested here focuses on mastery experiences, which are what individuals gain when they take on a challenge and succeed. The app prompts participants in the daily recall of self-efficacy memories. The project aims to test its feasibility and to investigate how daily self-efficacy and motivation can be enhanced and perceived stress and depression reduced by daily memory-based training via smartphone app.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Investigator)
Masking Description
Parallel Assignment
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 61 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Value on Perceived Stress Scale ≥ 13
- •Owner of a smartphone
Exclusion Criteria
- •1. Psychiatric history
Arms & Interventions
Control
Ecological Momentary Assessment
Intervention: Control intervention: Ecological Momentary Assessment only (Behavioral)
Intervention
Digital Self-Efficacy Training with 3 trainings daily and Ecological Momentary Assessment
Intervention: Self-Efficacy Training and Ecological Momentary Assessment (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
General Self-Efficacy
Time Frame: after app completion and 1 month after app completion
change in general self-efficacy meeasured using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE, 10 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale with higher scores indicating greater levels of self-efficacy; min=10, max=40)
Secondary Outcomes
- Depression(after app completion and 1 month after app completion)
- Hopelessness(after app completion and 1 month after app completion)
- Perceived Stress(after app completion and 1 month after app completion)
- Intolerance of Uncertainty(after app completion and 1 month after app completion)
- State and Trait Anxiety(after app completion and 1 month after app completion)
- Positive and Negative Affect positive and negative affect(after app completion and 1 month after app completion)
Investigators
Adam Brown, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology (Clinical) and Vice Provost for Research
The New School