Changes in Self-esteem in University Students via a Digital Coach

Following completion of the baseline (T1) measures, participants will engage with a conversational agent (CA) called HAFSE (Helper Agent for Self Esteem). HAFSE is logic based conversational agent. Engagement will involve the agent introducing themselves and then asking participants questions which encourage self-reflection and intention. HAFSE will interact with participants by speaking (digital voice) and text (her conversation will also appear as text). During the conversation, participants will be able to select answers from a pre-defined set of options which will allow them to direct the conversation. The expected interaction time is about 20 minutes. There will be only one brief online interaction. There are three conversations discussing: 1. How to change 3 common negative thinking styles (1, all-or-nothing thinking, 2 Magnifying or exaggerating negative experiences, 3. Minimising positives); 2. The value of keeping a Positive Self Diary. 3. Positive self-affirmations. Participants will access the conversational agent via a website link accessible within the online survey. We will capture responses during the conversation and will ask if they found the strategies helpful at the end of the session (T2), at 1-week follow-up (T3) and at 1-month follow-up (T4). In the study, all participants will do conversation 1, but they will get to choose between doing conversation 2 and 3. We will ask them if they would like to access later the conversation they did not choose. Engagement and interaction with HAFSE will be assessed via asking participants questions at the end of the interaction as to how helpful and useful they found their interaction with HAFSE. A unique code identifier (anonymized) will also be generated with accessing the HAFSE program, which will enable the researchers to also monitor how long in minutes and seconds each participant spent interacting with the HAFSE program.