Background

Despite the widespread recognition of the importance of mental health in young people, only a small proportion of young people with a mental disorder, including university students, receive mental health care.

Objective

We developed a smartphone application (Mental App) for the university students and examined the effects of the app on their mental health.

Methods

The app was designed according to a questionnaire survey conducted before this study. The Mental App was installed on the students’ smartphone and the psychological tests (the Link Stigma Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire) were performed on the same day. After using the App for two weeks, the students completed a questionnaire survey and underwent the same psychological tests. We compared the results between the app user and non-user group.

Results

A total of 68 students participated, of which 57 students completed the study (app user group, n = 28; control group, n = 29). The mean number of days spent using the app was 5.66 ± 3.16 (mean ± SD). The mean total screen time of the app was 9:03 ± 06:41(min:sec). The mean number of total actions (screen taps or swipes) was 161.91 ± 107.34. There were no significant between-group differences in the ΔLink Stigma Scale score (-0.11 ± 4.28 vs. -0.59 ± 3.30, p = 0.496) or the ΔCenter for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score (-4.39 ± 7.13 vs. -2.07 ± 8.78, p = 0.143). There was a significant between-group difference in the ΔGeneral Health Questionnaire score (-2.21± 2.23 vs. -0.17 ± 2.69, p = 0.007).

Conclusions

This non-randomized controlled pilot study indicates that the app we developed, may provide effective mental health care for university students, even in the short-term.

Trial registration: UMIN000040332

中文翻译：

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智能手机应用程序对大学生心理健康的短期影响：使用以用户为中心的设计自我监控应用程序进行心理健康的试点研究

背景

尽管人们普遍认识到心理健康在年轻人中的重要性，但只有一小部分患有精神疾病的年轻人，包括大学生，得到了心理保健。

目的

我们为大学生开发了智能手机应用程序（心理应用程序），并检查了该应用程序对他们心理健康的影响。

方法

The app was designed according to a questionnaire survey conducted before this study. The Mental App was installed on the students’ smartphone and the psychological tests (the Link Stigma Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire) were performed on the same day. After using the App for two weeks, the students completed a questionnaire survey and underwent the same psychological tests. We compared the results between the app user and non-user group.

Results

共有68名学生参加，其中57名学生完成了研究（应用程序用户组，n = 28；对照组，n = 29）。使用该应用的平均天数为5.66±3.16（均值±SD）。该应用程序的平均总屏幕时间为9:03±06:41（分钟：秒）。平均总动作次数（屏幕点击或滑动）为161.91±107.34。ΔLink柱头量表评分（-0.11±4.28对-0.59±3.30，p = 0.496）或Δ流行病学研究中心抑郁量表评分（-4.39±7.13对-2.07±8.78）没有显着的组间差异。，p＝ 0.143）。总体健康问卷得分之间存在显着的组间差异（-2.21±2.23对-0.17±2.69，p = 0.007）。

结论

这项非随机对照先导研究表明，即使在短期内，我们开发的应用程序也可能为大学生提供有效的心理健康护理。

试用注册：UMIN000040332