CBT-Based Skills Building via Multiple Formats Improves Mental Health and Healthy Behaviors in College Students
Abstract
Background: College students frequently struggle with their mental health, and digital inventions are an increasingly popular stepped-care approach. The effectiveness of such interventions by delivery format and facilitator inclusion is less understood.
Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of the MINDSTRONG© cognitive behavioral skills building program delivered in different formats on the mental health and healthy lifestyle beliefs/behaviors of university students.
Method: Students (n = 283) from a large public midwestern university were included. This three-arm randomized clinical trial assigned participants to one of three study arms that varied by delivery format and facilitation: virtual delivery, one-on-one with a facilitator; asynchronous delivery with a web-based program and facilitator check-in points; or asynchronous delivery with a web-based program and no facilitator. Students completed mental health (depression, anxiety, stress, resiliency, and burnout) and healthy lifestyle belief/behavior measures at baseline, post-intervention, and three months post-intervention.
Results: Significant positive change in all measures occurred from baseline to post-intervention, regardless of study arm, and sustained at three months. Higher participation occurred with facilitator involvement.
Conclusion: MINDSTRONG©, regardless of delivery mode, effectively improves mental health and healthy beliefs/behaviors in university students. Including a facilitator can improve participation.
Keywords: depression, anxiety, healthy lifestyle behaviors, MINDSTRONG, college students
How to Cite:
Hoying, J., Melnyk, B., Gray-Bauer, R., Messinger, J. & Hsieh, A., (2025) “CBT-Based Skills Building via Multiple Formats Improves Mental Health and Healthy Behaviors in College Students”, Building Healthy Academic Communities 9(3), 87-102. doi: https://doi.org/10.18061/bhac.5835
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