Self-help Books for Student Mental Health
| Status: | Not yet recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 12/23/2018 |
| Start Date: | January 7, 2019 |
| End Date: | October 7, 2019 |
| Contact: | Woolee An, M.S. |
| Email: | wooleean@aggiemail.usu.edu |
| Phone: | 8019003493 |
A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) Comparing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Self-help Books for College Student Mental Health
The goal of this study is to compare the efficacy and mechanisms of change of two self-help
books for college student mental health in a randomized controlled trial. One book is based
on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and one is based on acceptance and commitment
therapy (ACT).
This study will test the following hypotheses:
1. The ACT and MBSR books will both be feasible and acceptable with college students as
evidenced by equivalently high satisfaction and engagement rates.
2. The ACT and MBSR books will be equally effective in improving mental health and
well-being among college students.
3. The ACT book will produce larger improvements in valued action, and the MBSR book will
produce larger improvements in mindfulness.
4. Valued action will be a stronger predictor of improvements in mental health in the ACT
condition and mindfulness will be a stronger predictor of improvements in the
mindfulness condition.
books for college student mental health in a randomized controlled trial. One book is based
on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and one is based on acceptance and commitment
therapy (ACT).
This study will test the following hypotheses:
1. The ACT and MBSR books will both be feasible and acceptable with college students as
evidenced by equivalently high satisfaction and engagement rates.
2. The ACT and MBSR books will be equally effective in improving mental health and
well-being among college students.
3. The ACT book will produce larger improvements in valued action, and the MBSR book will
produce larger improvements in mindfulness.
4. Valued action will be a stronger predictor of improvements in mental health in the ACT
condition and mindfulness will be a stronger predictor of improvements in the
mindfulness condition.
The investigators aim to recruit 150 college students for this RCT (75 per treatment
condition). This will provide adequate power (0.80) to detect differences between groups of
medium effect size (d=0.50). Note that detailed eligibility criteria are listed in the
"Eligibility" section. Participants will be recruited via SONA (a participant recruitment
system), flyers, online postings, classroom announcements, and through a general online
screener for various Utah State University (USU) Contextual Behavioral Science (CBS) Lab
studies.
Total study participation will occur over approximately 8 weeks. all study procedures will be
completed online, on a computer/mobile phone. After completing informed consent, participants
will complete a baseline survey.
At the end of the baseline survey, participants will be randomly assigned to use a book based
on ACT (The Happiness Trap) or MBSR (A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook).
Participants will be asked not to access other self-help books during the study duration.
Participants will be provided with an 8-week reading schedule and a link to the assigned
book. Participants will be asked to complete a mid-treatment survey 4 weeks after the
beginning of treatment. The mid-treatment survey will include questions about adherence.
Participants will be asked to complete a post-treatment survey 8 weeks after the beginning of
treatment. This survey will also ask about adherence (reading, use of strategies taught in
the book). Researcher contact will involve reminders to complete assessments, basic email
assistance in identifying and responding to any barriers to using the self-help book, and
twice-weekly reminders of the suggested reading schedule.
After completing the initial assessment participants will be sent a link to The Happiness
Trap if they are assigned to the ACT condition, or a link to the Mindfulness-Based Stress
Reduction Workbook if they are in the MBSR condition. They will be able to access the book
online at any time. Participants will be asked to read assigned chapters on an 8-week
schedule.
The Happiness Trap is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a modern cognitive
behavioral therapy that combines acceptance and mindfulness methods with values and behavior
change methods. The primary treatment components in The Happiness Trap are psychoeducation of
ACT, defusion, acceptance, mindfulness, self-as-context, value, behavioral commitment.
A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook is based on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction,
a standardized approach to teaching mindfulness, primarily through meditation practices. The
primary treatment components in A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook are
psychoeducation about mindfulness and mindfulness meditation and various types of mindfulness
meditation practice, such as mind-body connection, loving-kindness meditation, interpersonal
mindfulness, and the healthy path of mindful eating, exercise, rest, and connection.
condition). This will provide adequate power (0.80) to detect differences between groups of
medium effect size (d=0.50). Note that detailed eligibility criteria are listed in the
"Eligibility" section. Participants will be recruited via SONA (a participant recruitment
system), flyers, online postings, classroom announcements, and through a general online
screener for various Utah State University (USU) Contextual Behavioral Science (CBS) Lab
studies.
Total study participation will occur over approximately 8 weeks. all study procedures will be
completed online, on a computer/mobile phone. After completing informed consent, participants
will complete a baseline survey.
At the end of the baseline survey, participants will be randomly assigned to use a book based
on ACT (The Happiness Trap) or MBSR (A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook).
Participants will be asked not to access other self-help books during the study duration.
Participants will be provided with an 8-week reading schedule and a link to the assigned
book. Participants will be asked to complete a mid-treatment survey 4 weeks after the
beginning of treatment. The mid-treatment survey will include questions about adherence.
Participants will be asked to complete a post-treatment survey 8 weeks after the beginning of
treatment. This survey will also ask about adherence (reading, use of strategies taught in
the book). Researcher contact will involve reminders to complete assessments, basic email
assistance in identifying and responding to any barriers to using the self-help book, and
twice-weekly reminders of the suggested reading schedule.
After completing the initial assessment participants will be sent a link to The Happiness
Trap if they are assigned to the ACT condition, or a link to the Mindfulness-Based Stress
Reduction Workbook if they are in the MBSR condition. They will be able to access the book
online at any time. Participants will be asked to read assigned chapters on an 8-week
schedule.
The Happiness Trap is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a modern cognitive
behavioral therapy that combines acceptance and mindfulness methods with values and behavior
change methods. The primary treatment components in The Happiness Trap are psychoeducation of
ACT, defusion, acceptance, mindfulness, self-as-context, value, behavioral commitment.
A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook is based on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction,
a standardized approach to teaching mindfulness, primarily through meditation practices. The
primary treatment components in A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook are
psychoeducation about mindfulness and mindfulness meditation and various types of mindfulness
meditation practice, such as mind-body connection, loving-kindness meditation, interpersonal
mindfulness, and the healthy path of mindful eating, exercise, rest, and connection.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18 or older
- Enrolled at Utah State University
- Have not participated in other self-help studies run by the USU CBS Lab
- Interested in using self-help book for improving mental health and well-being
Exclusion Criteria:
- Below the age of 18
- Not a student at Utah State University
- Have participated in previous self-help studies run by the CBS Lab
- Not interested in using a self-help book for improving mental health and well-being
We found this trial at
1
site
Logan, Utah 84322
Principal Investigator: Michael Levin, PhD
Phone: 541-531-3892
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