Prevention of chronic mental disorders in students with depression and/or anxiety symptoms Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Conditions
Interventions
Current interventions as of 27/01/2026:
We will conduct a randomized study with 360 undergraduate students recruited from six universities in China. Using the RCT method of impact evaluation, we wil
Sponsors
Stanford University
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 30 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Undergraduate student enrolled at participating universities in China 2. Reporting mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of depression and/or anxiety (PHQ-9>=5; GAD-7 >=5) 3. Willing to attend weekly classes and engage in mindfulness practice at home 4. 18 years or older
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. In graduating year of undergraduate program 2. Has moderate/severe risk of self-harm or harm to others (thoughts of self-harm and/or harm to others occurring several or more days per week) 3. Has received formal, teacher-led mindfulness meditation training before and/or has a regular meditation practice (once or more per week over the past two months) 4. Is currently receiving psychotherapy and/or taking psychiatric medication
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Anxiety symptoms will be measured using the General Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) at baseline, weekly during the intervention, at endline, and in several follow-ups at three months, six months, and four years after the intervention (post-graduation from undergraduate studies) 2. Depression symptoms will be measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire Scale (PHQ-9) at baseline, weekly during the intervention, at endline, and in several follow-ups at three months, six months, and four years after the intervention (post-graduation from undergraduate studies) | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Current secondary outcome measures as of 24/09/2025: 1. Physiological stress will be measured using cortisol levels. The cortisol levels will be measured via saliva samples starting one week before the intervention, three times on the same day at consistent times. At the end of the intervention, the cortisol levels will be measured one week after the course ends, three times on the same day (at the same times as before the intervention). 2. Perceived stress is measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), measured at baseline, weekly during the intervention, at endline, and in several follow-ups at three months, six months, and four years after the intervention 3. Emotion regulation will be measured using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) at baseline, weekly during the intervention, at endline, and in several follow-ups at three months, six months, and four years after the intervention 4. Coping strategies will be measured using the Coping Strategies Scale at baseline, endline, and in several follow-ups at three months, six months, and four years after the intervention 5. Trait mindfulness will be measured using the short-form of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-SF) at baseline, endline, and in several follow-ups at three months, six months, and four years after the intervention 6. State mindfulness will be measured using the Multidimensional State Mindfulness Questionnaire (MSMQ) baseline, endline, measured weekly during the intervention, and in several follow-ups at three months, six months, and four years after the intervention 7. Loneliness will be measured using the short-form of the 6-item UCLA Loneliness Scale at baseline, endline, and in several follow-ups at three months, six months, and four years after the intervention 8. Recent stressful events will be measured using the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC) at baseline and endline, and in several follow-ups at three months, six months, and four years after th | — |
Countries
China
Contacts
Public ContactCody Abbey
Outcome results
None listed