Impact of an App-Based Resilience Training on Enhancing Stress Regulation and Mental Health.

Abstract

Introduction: Recent research suggests various app-based-programs to promote mental health, resilience and stress management. Insights gained from studies with healthy participants could potentially offer training strategies that could also prove beneficial for people with mental disorders. The effectiveness of an app-based resilience-training was evaluated.

Methods: In the present study, 68 mentally healthy participants were included. They all received both the intervention as two-month resilience training via an app and the control condition (waiting group) as part of a cross-over design. In addition, the participants were interviewed before, and after each condition with the Stress and Coping Inventory (SCI), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Resilience Scale (RS13), measuring psychological stress and symptoms.

Results: The results of the ANCOVA indicate that the app-training does not significantly improve resilience in healthy people (p = .278). However, it significantly enhances stress regulation in the intervention group and the control group (p = .030), independent of the initial stress level. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between effective stress regulation and improved mental health (measured by the BSI).

Conclusion: Emphasizing mindfulness and reflection through resilience training and the enhanced perception of mental health, can improve stress regulation, thereby underscoring its crucial role. To maximize the benefits of resilience training, it is imperative to further develop training apps, enhancing their attractiveness and suitability for long-term use, and extend its use. Future work should focus on refining these interventions to ensure sustained engagement and effectiveness.