Digital Interventions for Psychological Well-being in University Students: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Life at university provides important opportunities for personal growth; however, this developmental phase also coincides with the peak period of risk for the onset of mental health disorders. In addition, specific university lifestyle factors, including impaired sleep and academic and financial stress, are known to exacerbate psychological distress in students. As a result, university students have been identified as a vulnerable population who often experience significant barriers to accessing psychological treatment. Digital psychological interventions are emerging as a promising solution for this population, but their effectiveness remains unclear. Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess digital interventions targeting psychological well-being among university students. Methods Database searches were conducted on December 2, 2021, via Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Results A total of 13 eligible studies were identified, 10 (77%) of which were included in the meta-analysis. Mean pre-post effect sizes indicated that such interventions led to small and significant improvement in psychological well-being (Hedges g=0.32, 95% CI 0.23-0.4; P<.001). These effects remained, albeit smaller, when studies that included a wait-list control group were excluded (Hedges g=0.22, 95% CI 0.08-0.35; P=.002). An analysis of acceptance and commitment therapy approaches revealed small and significant effects (k=6; Hedges g=0.35, 95% CI 0.25-0.45; P<.001). Conclusions Digital psychological interventions hold considerable promise for university students, although features that optimize service delivery and outcomes require further assessment. Trial Registration PROSPERO CRD42020196654; https:/www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=196654

Mental distress and well-being of university students amid COVID-19 pandemic: findings from an online integrative intervention for psychology trainees

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Acceptability and utility of digital well‐being and mental health support for university students: A pilot study

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Effects of online mindfulness-based interventions on the mental health of university students: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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“…Online therapies aimed at university students’ psychological issues may eliminate their worries about stigma, time constraints, and unfamiliarity with the healthcare system ( Montagni et al, 2020 ). Moreover, the high usage of smartphones and familiarity with blended learning modes mean that most university students are well suited for an online digital health support model ( Ferrari et al, 2022 ). Other global factors, like the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitate social distancing and prolonged in-room hours to slow the spread of the virus.…”