%0 Journal Article
%@ 2291-5222
%I JMIR Publications
%V 9
%N 7
%P e26498
%T A Mobile-Based Intervention to Increase Self-esteem in Students With Depressive Symptoms: Randomized Controlled Trial
%A Bruhns,Alina
%A Lüdtke,Thies
%A Moritz,Steffen
%A Bücker,Lara
%+ University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany, 49 40741055868, l.buecker@uke.de
%K mHealth
%K depression
%K depressive symptoms
%K students’ mental health
%K self-help smartphone app
%K mobile phone
%K self-esteem
%D 2021
%7 12.7.2021
%9 Original Paper
%J JMIR Mhealth Uhealth
%G English
%X Background: Depressive symptoms are one of the most common and ever-increasing mental health problems among students worldwide. Conventional treatment options, particularly psychotherapy, do not reach all students in need of help. Internet- and mobile-based interventions are promising alternatives for narrowing the treatment gap. Objective: In the framework of a randomized controlled trial, we aim to investigate the effectiveness, acceptance, and side effects of a self-help smartphone app (MCT & More) based on cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, and metacognitive training in a sample of students with self-reported depressive symptoms. Furthermore, we were interested in examining the influence of treatment expectations and attitudes toward internet- and mobile-based interventions on treatment adherence and effectiveness. Methods: A total of 400 students were recruited via open access websites and randomized to either the intervention group (n=200), who received access to the self-help smartphone app MCT & More for a period of 4 weeks, or to a wait-list control group (n=200). The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (depression) served as the primary outcome parameter, and the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (self-esteem) and the global item of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-abbreviated version (quality of life) served as the secondary outcome parameters. The Attitudes Towards Psychological Online Interventions was used to measure attitudes toward internet- and mobile-based interventions. Outcome expectations were assessed using the Patient Questionnaire on Therapy Expectation and Evaluation, and side effects were assessed using the Inventory for Assessing Negative Effects of Psychotherapy. Results: Per-protocol (PP), complete-case, and intention-to-treat analyses showed a significantly higher reduction in depressive symptoms (PP: F1,222=3.98; P=.047; d=0.26) and a significantly higher increase in self-esteem (PP: F1,220=8.79; P=.003; d=0.40) in the intervention group than in the wait-list control group. Most participants regularly used the self-help smartphone app (91/120, 75.8%, at least once a week). The more positive the attitude toward internet- and mobile-based interventions (r=0.260; P=.004) and the more positive the outcome expectation (r=0.236; P=.009), the more frequently the self-help smartphone app was used. Conclusions: The effectiveness of the self-help smartphone app MCT & More was demonstrated among students with depressive symptoms compared with a wait-list control group. The app could be offered regularly as a low-threshold intervention to enhance students’ health. Trial Registration: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00020941; https://tinyurl.com/pr84w6er 
%M 34255711
%R 10.2196/26498
%U https://mhealth.jmir.org/2021/7/e26498
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/26498
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34255711