mHealth
Can an internet app cut college-student stress?
Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC
In 150 stressed college students, a 7-week internet- and app-based program (StudiCare Stress) reduced perceived stress versus waitlist (d=0.69), with 69% vs 35% stress responders (NNT=2.89).
Study at a glance
- Design
- RCT — RCT of internet- and app-based StudiCare Stress with feedback-on-demand vs waitlist control (both with treatment as usual) in German college students
- N
- N=150 · 150 students with PSS-4 ≥8 randomised 75:75; posttest at 7 weeks, follow-up at 3 months
- Population
- College students with elevated perceived stress (PSS-4 ≥8)
- Outcome
- Perceived stress (PSS-4) at 7 weeks; secondary mental-health, academic, and help-seeking outcomes
Structured fields used in claim comparison tables when every cited study has a complete layer.
Key findings
Posttreatment effects vs waitlist: stress d=0.69, anxiety d=0.76, depression d=0.63, plus small academic gains. 52/75 (69%) vs 26/75 (35%) responded on stress. 76.8% were first-time help-seekers; 77.3% had clinically relevant depression at baseline. Effects held at 3 months.
Methodology
Randomised 150 students (PSS-4 ≥8) to StudiCare Stress with feedback on demand or waitlist (both had TAU), and measured stress, anxiety, depression, and academic outcomes at 7 weeks and 3 months.
Limitations
Waitlist controls and TAU access cannot isolate app effects from expectancy or extra care; 3-month dropout was higher in the intervention arm, so long-term claims are weaker.
How this study connects
Role on claims
Each row is a claim on a concept or method page where this paper supports, challenges, or qualifies the statement. Roles are hand-checked — not a model guess.
A 7-week college stress app can beat waitlist on perceived stress, with many first-time help-seekers.
In 150 stressed college students, StudiCare Stress reduced perceived stress versus waitlist (d=0.69); 69% vs 35% were stress responders (NNT=2.89). Anxiety d=0.76 and depression d=0.63; 76.8% were first-time help-seekers. Effects held at 3 months, with higher intervention dropout.
Evidence for the claim as stated.
Phone sensors can track daily movement and usage that correlate with PHQ-9 severity.
In 28 adults carrying a sensor phone for 2 weeks, less regular GPS movement and more phone use tracked higher PHQ-9 (circadian movement r=−.63; usage duration r=.54). Normalized entropy classified PHQ-9 ≥5 vs <5 at 86.5% accuracy.
Scope note — StudiCare is a treatment RCT on perceived stress, not a 2-week GPS/PHQ-9 sensor correlation
Limits the claim's scope: a different population, assay, or outcome.
StudiCare’s college waitlist stress effects, MoodGYM’s adult well-being RCT, a 2-week GPS/PHQ-9 sensor study, and a schizophrenia SDM activation trial are all digital mental-health papers, not one pooled app effect.
Evidence for the claim as stated.
Open questions
Tensions this paper is part of
From concept pages' “where studies disagree.” Disagreement means the same question; scope means different assays, populations, or outcomes.
StudiCare’s college waitlist stress effects, MoodGYM’s adult well-being RCT, a 2-week GPS/PHQ-9 sensor study, and a schizophrenia SDM activation trial are all digital mental-health papers, not one pooled app effect.
History
When this study was placed
Dated entries from the concept change log — when this paper was added or removed as support, challenge, or qualifier on a claim.
Placed as a scope qualifier on mHealth
In 28 adults carrying a sensor phone for 2 weeks, less regular GPS movement and more phone use tracked higher PHQ-9 (circadian movement r=−.63; usage duration r=.54). Normalized entropy classified PHQ-9 ≥5 vs <5 at 86.5% accuracy.
Placed as supporting evidence on mHealth
In 150 stressed college students, StudiCare Stress reduced perceived stress versus waitlist (d=0.69); 69% vs 35% were stress responders (NNT=2.89). Anxiety d=0.76 and depression d=0.63; 76.8% were first-time help-seekers. Effects held at 3 months, with higher intervention dropout.
Placed as supporting evidence on mHealth
StudiCare’s college waitlist stress effects and MoodGYM’s adult well-being RCT differ in population, endpoint, and attrition; both are digital mental-health trials, not one pooled app effect.
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