Background
Loneliness is a widespread problem on college campuses that predicts future mental health problems and college dropout, making college a critical time for support.
Hypotheses
We examined whether a mobile app incorporating positive psychology and cognitive behavioral coping skills could address loneliness and associated mental health outcomes among first-year college students.
Sample Characteristics
Students (N=221; mean age=18.7 years, 59% female; 47% non-white) were recruited via first-year orientation. Students with high baseline loneliness were over-recruited such that they comprised ~50% of the sample.
Design
Participants were randomized to either immediate app access (experimental) or access after 4 weeks (control). The app delivered skills via 1) “social challenges”--suggested social activities tailored to students’ social goals; and 2) reflections--short in-app exercises designed to build resilience. ‘Intent-to-treat’ analyses compared the conditions on loneliness (UCLA-8), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), and other wellbeing outcomes between baseline (BL) and 4 weeks. Secondary analyses tested whether treatment benefits were more pronounced for participants with heightened baseline psychological vulnerability (i.e. higher depression and loneliness).
Results
Although app exposure did not impact outcomes for the full sample, there was a significant baseline depression X condition interaction to predict week 4 loneliness (F=9.65, p=.002). Baseline depression positively predicted week 4 loneliness among control (r=0.30, t=3.81, p<.001), but not among experimental participants (r=-0.09, t=-0.84, p =.40). Similarly, there was a significant condition X baseline loneliness interaction to predict week 4 depression (F=5.17, p=.02): treated participants who were high in baseline loneliness were buffered against heightened week 4 depression. Moderation by baseline vulnerability was also found for week 4 sleep quality, social support, and campus belonging.
Scientific Contribution
Results provide initial evidence that positive psychology and cognitive behavioral skills delivered via mobile app can buffer psychologically-vulnerable college students against heightened loneliness, depressive symptoms, and other negative wellbeing outcomes.