Effects of Self-Efficacy Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMA) App

The New School

Status: Completed

Conditions: Self Efficacy

Treatments: Behavioral: Control intervention: Ecological Momentary Assessment only; Behavioral: Self-Efficacy Training and Ecological Momentary Assessment

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06140498

2020-96

Details and patient eligibility

About

This "SeApp" study aims to test a self-efficacy Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) in healthy students in the context of COVID-19. EMIs are mostly smartphone-based applications that deliver interventions to people while being engaged in their daily life activities. The app harnesses the power of self-efficacy autobiographical memories (e.g. problem-solving memories, memories of success).

Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) are also incorporated into the study to capture individuals' feelings, affect, and behavior in real time.

Clarification added [September 2025]: The record previously showed an incorrect estimated enrollment due to a data entry error. The planned enrollment for this trial was 93, consistent with comparable prior studies, and enrollment was closed when 93 participants had been enrolled.

Full description

This "SeApp" study aims to test a self-efficacy Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) in healthy students in the context of COVID-19. EMIs are mostly smartphone-based applications that deliver interventions to people while being engaged in their daily life activities. The app harnesses the power of self-efficacy autobiographical memories (e.g. problem-solving memories, memories of success).

Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) are also incorporated into the study to capture individuals' feelings, affect, and behavior in real time.

Developed by psychologist Dr. Albert Bandura in 1977, the concept of self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability to perform the necessary actions to manage particular situations. Bandura's theory highlights four major components of self-efficacy, including mastery experiences, socialmodeling, social persuasion, and psychological responses. The app tested here focuses on mastery experiences, which are what individuals gain when they take on a challenge and succeed. The app prompts participants in the daily recall of self-efficacy memories. The project aims to test its feasibility and to investigate how daily self-efficacy and motivation can be enhanced and perceived stress and depression reduced by daily memory-based training via smartphone app.

Enrollment: 93 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 61 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Value on Perceived Stress Scale ≥ 13
2. Student
3. Owner of a smartphone

Exclusion criteria

1. Psychiatric history

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Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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93 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Digital Self-Efficacy Training with 3 trainings daily and Ecological Momentary Assessment

Treatment:

Behavioral: Self-Efficacy Training and Ecological Momentary Assessment

Control

Active Comparator group

Description:

Ecological Momentary Assessment

Treatment:

Behavioral: Control intervention: Ecological Momentary Assessment only