Sharper minds: Feasibility and effectiveness of a mental health promotion package for university students targeting multiple health and self-care behaviours
Genevieve A. Dingle , Rong Han , Kevin Huang , Sakinah S.J. Alhadad , Emma Beckman , Sarah V. Bentley , Shannon Edmed , Sjaan R. Gomersall , Leanne Hides , Nadine Lorimer , Fiona Maccallum , Blake M. McKimmie , Norman Ng , Kalina Rossa , Simon S. Smith , Zoe C. Walter , Elyse Williams , Olivia R.L. Wright , Radhika Tanksale
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Abstract
Objective
This study assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of the Sharper Minds package, a mental health intervention designed for university students, co-developed with student input. The program included a weekly self-monitoring e-tool and/or a short course targeting six self-care areas: physical activity, diet, sleep, music to aid study, mood regulation, and social connection.
Method
A non-randomised controlled trial involved 433 undergraduate students in three conditions: control, one-intervention (either e-tool or course), and two-intervention (both e-tool and course). Data were collected at baseline and after six weeks. Feasibility was measured by reach, retention, and acceptability, while primary outcomes focused on mental health indicators such as depression and anxiety, and secondary outcomes were somatic symptoms, wellbeing and academic motivation.
Results
Results indicated good retention (72 %) and positive feedback on acceptability. Students receiving both interventions (two-intervention condition) showed a 17.6 % reduction in the proportion screening positive for mental health issues, a change not seen in other conditions. A MANCOVA analysis identified a significant interaction between condition and time across combined outcomes (depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms, wellbeing, and motivation), with a small effect size.
Conclusions
This is the first mental health promotion package for Australian university students addressing multiple health and self-care behaviours. Findings indicate students found the package components acceptable and experienced positive effects on mental health.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Affective Disorders publishes papers concerned with affective disorders in the widest sense: depression, mania, mood spectrum, emotions and personality, anxiety and stress. It is interdisciplinary and aims to bring together different approaches for a diverse readership. Top quality papers will be accepted dealing with any aspect of affective disorders, including neuroimaging, cognitive neurosciences, genetics, molecular biology, experimental and clinical neurosciences, pharmacology, neuroimmunoendocrinology, intervention and treatment trials.
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