A Web-Based Intervention Using "Five Ways to Wellbeing" to Promote Well-Being and Mental Health: Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Psychology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Mental health challenges and compromised well-being are global concerns requiring scalable, low-cost interventions.
• Traditional psychological treatments are resource-intensive and insufficient to meet demand.
• The Five Ways to Wellbeing framework identifies five key activity domains for promoting well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the web-based Five Ways to Wellbeing for All (5waysA) intervention.
• To test a novel digital format of the Five Ways to Wellbeing framework.
• To assess the intervention's impact on well-being and mental health in the general population.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 969 participants recruited online in Norway.
• Participants were assigned to an intervention group or a waiting list control group.
• Webinars, SMS reminders over 10 weeks, and self-reported well-being measures (SWLS, FS, HSCL-8) were used.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in life satisfaction (SWLS), flourishing (FS), and positive emotions compared to controls.
• A combined global well-being measure also significantly increased in the intervention group.
• The intervention led to a significant reduction in anxiety and depressive symptoms (HSCL-8).

Conclusions:

• The web-based 5waysA intervention is an effective and accessible tool for enhancing population well-being and mental health.
• This digital approach offers a potentially cost-effective solution for widespread implementation.
• Findings support the use of digital interventions for public mental health promotion.