App-Based Coaching to Prevent Addictive Behaviors in Vocational School Students: A Cluster Randomized Trial.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Digital Health
• Addiction Prevention

Background:

• Vocational students are a key demographic for addiction prevention efforts.
• Digital interventions offer scalable solutions for health promotion in educational settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an app-based addiction prevention program.
• To assess the impact on alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis consumption, and problematic internet use.
• To examine changes in social competence and stress levels.

Main Methods:

• A two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in German vocational schools.
• 162 classes were randomized to an app-based coaching intervention or a control group.
• Primary outcomes were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months using generalized linear models.

Main Results:

• The app-based program showed significant improvements in social competence (d=0.19 at 12 months).
• It led to significant reductions in stress (d=-0.20 at 12 months) and problematic internet use (d=-0.17 at 12 months).
• A significant reduction in tobacco consumption was also observed (b=-0.031).

Conclusions:

• App-based interventions are effective in reducing addictive behaviors among vocational students.
• These programs can enhance life skills and contribute to broader mental health benefits.
• Digital tools hold promise for scalable addiction prevention strategies in schools.