Adjustment, Psychological, Depression and/or Anxiety in the Mild-to-moderate Range, Loneliness, Stress, Psychological
Conditions
Brief summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if an adapted version of Self-Help Plus (SH+), a stress management program developed by the World Health Organization, can reduce stress and improve well-being in international students at a U.S. university. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does SH+ reduce perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in international students? Does SH+ improve feelings of social support, self-efficacy, and adjustment in a new cultural environment? Participants will: Attend a two-day in-person workshop that includes animated videos, interactive activities, and group discussions. Complete three surveys (before the workshop, right after, and six weeks later) about stress, mood, and well-being. Optionally, take part in a short interview to share feedback about their experience.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALDigitized SH+
Digitized SH+ is a group-based, stress management program (adapted from the original Self-Help Plus intervention developed by the World Health Organization), that utilizes animated videos and group discussions to teach participants skills such as Grounding, Unhooking (from difficult thoughts), Being Kind (to self and others), Identifying Values, and Making Room for Difficult Thoughts and Feelings.
Sponsors
The New School
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Enrolled as an international student at The New School * Age 18 years or older * Willing to provide informed consent and complete study assessments * Score of ≥3 on the PHQ-4, indicating at least mild distress * Sufficient English proficiency to comprehend intervention materials
Exclusion criteria
* Severe psychiatric conditions requiring immediate intervention (e.g., active psychosis, severe mood disorders) * Visual, hearing, or neurocognitive impairments that prevent engagement with the intervention * Having an advanced degree in psychology or mental health-related fields (to prevent prior knowledge bias) * Score of 2 or higher on PHQ-4 Item 3 or Item 4 (frequent thoughts of self-harm or severe distress)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) | Change from baseline to 6-week follow-up | Self-reported perceived stress levels. Higher scores indicate greater perceived stress. Range: 0-40 Higher scores= worse outcome (greater perceived stress) Cutoffs: 0-13 low, 14-26 moderate, 27-40 high |
| Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) | Change from baseline to 6-week follow-up | Range: 0-27 Higher scores = worse outcome (greater depression severity). Cutoffs: 1-4 minimal, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-19 moderately severe, 20-27 severe. |
| General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) | Change from baseline to 6-week follow-up | Range: 0-21 Higher scores = worse outcome (greater anxiety severity) Cutoffs: 0-4 minimal, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-21 severe |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Measure for Loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) | Change from baseline to 6-week follow-up | Range: 0-60 (20 items, scored 0-3) Higher scores = worse outcome (greater loneliness/social isolation). |
| Psychological Adjustment (BASE-6) | Change from baseline to 6-week follow-up | Range: 6-42 (six items, each scored 1-7). Higher scores = worse outcome (greater emotional distress and adjustment difficulty). |
| Social Support (SSQ) | Change from baseline to 6-week follow-up | Range varies (depends on individual): self-reported number of people available for support + satisfaction rating). Higher scores = better outcome (greater perceived support and satisfaction). |
| Self-Efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale) | Change from baseline to 6-week follow-up | Range: 10-40 (10 items, scored 1-4). Higher scores = better outcome (greater self-efficacy/confidence in coping). |
Countries
United States
Contacts
Primary ContactJosheka S Chauhan, MA
Outcome results
None listed