Web-based training for post-secondary student well-being during the pandemic: a randomized trial

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Online Education
• Mental Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to online learning, increasing stress for post-secondary students.
• Coping mechanisms like decentering and reappraisal are crucial for stress resilience.
• Limited research exists on cultivating these skills within online educational settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of brief, web-based interventions in cultivating mindfulness and stress-reappraisal skills.
• To determine if these interventions improve mental health outcomes in undergraduate students.
• To compare the efficacy of different intervention types: stress mindset, mindfulness meditation, and mindfulness with choice.

Main Methods:

• A three-arm randomized trial design was employed with 183 undergraduate participants.
• Participants were randomly assigned to one of three 3-week web-based intervention conditions.
• Interventions focused on stress mindset, mindfulness meditation, or mindfulness with choice.

Main Results:

• Decentering skills improved across all intervention groups from baseline to post-intervention.
• Mindfulness with choice significantly reduced negative affect and rumination compared to the stress mindset group.
• The stress mindset intervention significantly enhanced stress mindset skills and daily positive affect compared to mindfulness groups.

Conclusions:

• Brief web-based interventions can remotely support student mental health in online learning environments.
• Mindfulness practices show promise for improving negative mood and coping strategies.
• Stress mindset training effectively promotes a stress-is-enhancing mindset among students, though further refinement and personalized matching are needed.