None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The prevalence of anxiety disorders in young adults is increasing, a number of factors will be contributing to this, but the combination of low help-seeking behaviours and limited availability of resources dedicated to youth mental health could be key. Use of smartphones provides potential reach and accessibility not previously available, so we are exploring alternative approaches to mental health service delivery that utilises this technology. There are many smartphone apps designed to deliver CBT programs, however engagement and adherence is often low. ChatBots could be a more engaging alternative: they are perceived as safe and have been shown to be effective in reducing stress and improving wellbeing. This is a pilot study to determine the feasibility of using a ChatBot as an early self-help intervention for stress and anxiety in young adults (aged 18-24). The primary objective of this exploratory study is to determine how engaging this intervention is for young adults recruited from tertiary institutes. If it is engaging, it is expected that there will be an increase in self-reported well-being, and a reduction in self-reported stress and anxiety.
Interventions
The 21 Day Stress Detox is a digital intervention that sits on the HABITs (Health Advances through Behaviour Intervention Technologies) platform - a digital ecosystem developed by the University of Auckland to manage a body of research around the use of digital technologies for mental health support.
Participants on the 21 Day Stress Detox are directed to this platform, where they first register, then consent electronically to the study and proceed to complete baseline measures. Participants ar
The 21 Day Stress Detox is a digital intervention that sits on the HABITs (Health Advances through Behaviour Intervention Technologies) platform - a digital ecosystem developed by the University of Auckland to manage a body of research around the use of digital technologies for mental health support. Participants on the 21 Day Stress Detox are directed to this platform, where they first register, then consent electronically to the study and proceed to complete baseline measures. Participants are then instructed (via a link) on how to activate the chatbot using their Facebook Messenger. The chatbot consists of 21 days-worth of structured dialogues. Each day the chatbot initiates a new activity by sending the participant a message (e.g. "hi {participant name}, how's it going?"). The chatbot provides new content each day. The content of the intervention is steeped in cognitive behavioural (CBT) framework that includes relaxation, problem solving, identifying and challenging negative thoughts. Additionally interpersonal skills (communication, negotiation, assertiveness) are also part of the program. The focus of the intervention is to teach positive coping skills to manage stressful situations better. Each engagement is designed to last around 5 minutes each day. There are 3 stages covered over the 21 days, based on a CBT 3 component model: 1. Feelings - self monitoring, bodily sensation awareness, relaxation techniques 2. Thinking - cognitive re-appraisal & challenging negative thoughts 3. Behaviour - structured problem solving, positive communication, activity scheduling & systematic desensitisation for fearful situations. Content is linked throughout to practical goal setting. A daily prompt encourages a growth mindset through gratitude journaling. Content is delivered in short, easy to digest segments of psycho-education followed by examples and activities for participants to practice. Participants are free to use the chatbot as much or as little as they choose during the 21 day period, usage data will be accessed via the HABITs platform to analyse adherence.
Sponsors
University of Auckland
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 24 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Participants will be eligible for inclusion if: •They are aged 18-24 years of age (on the day of consent); •They have access to a smart phone, tablet or Chromebook (Android, iOS) •They have a Facebook Messenger account
Exclusion criteria
Nil
Outcome results
None listed