Optimizing Daily Mindfulness Interventions Using Peer Support to Increase Well-Being in First-Year Students

Pitzer College

Status: Unknown

Conditions: OMI, OMI+, Control Group

Treatments: Behavioral: Benign Behavioral Interventions

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04828291

3661

Details and patient eligibility

About

This project aims to examine the effect of a self-guided, evidence-based, online mindfulness intervention on well-being among first-year undergraduates at the 5 Claremont Colleges (5C's) and graduate students in the community. Additionally, it explores the feasibility and efficacy of peer support (pairs) as an adjunctive treatment component to enhance engagement and treatment effects, including social-connectedness, well- being, academic outcomes, and anxiety. Findings will provide insight into effective ways to (1) support students at The Claremont Colleges, and (2) leverage technology and peer support to implement mental health initiatives that are cost-effective, easily transportable, and scalable in low-resource settings.

Enrollment: 180 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• all participants must be either a first-year undergraduate student or a graduate student. Participants must be 18 years or older.

Exclusion criteria

• all participants must be either a first-year undergraduate student or a graduate student. Participants must be 18 years or older.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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180 participants in 3 patient groups

Online Mindfulness Intervention (OMI)

Experimental group

Description:

Before beginning the daily practices, this group will be introduced to the OMI via an online platform and answer any questions about the practice. Then, each day, this group will be guided through a series of mindfulness practices offered online (www.bemindfulonline.com) delivered on their smartphones or laptops.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Benign Behavioral Interventions

OMI paired with peer support (OMI+)

Experimental group

Description:

Before beginning the daily OMI, in addition to being briefed, this group will be paired with a peer to be in touch with and guide and support each other in this process. Then they will start the OMI program and will follow parallel instructions as the OMI group. The peer support will include five brief (30-minute) weekly meetings to support and encourage each other to continue practicing mindfulness and to complete the online intervention. Each week we will provide prompts and topics for participants to discuss and at the end of each meeting, participants will then complete a short, 5-10 minute post-meeting survey to assess the well-being and attitudes of their partner (see additional materials for meeting prompts and post-meeting survey questions). The first of these meetings will occur on Day 8, and subsequent weekly meetings during the intervention period will be scheduled based on the shared availability of both participants in each pair.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Benign Behavioral Interventions

Active control receiving cognitive exercises

Active Comparator group

Description:

Instead of the OMI, this group will be receiving cognitive exercises in the intervention period.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Benign Behavioral Interventions