RCT: the Effectiveness of LifeHack in Improving Mental Wellbeing in University Students.
NCT ID: NCT06423417
Last Updated: 2025-06-22
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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RECRUITING
NA
217 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2023-11-01
2025-07-31
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Caring Universities (CU) is an internationally embedded consortium of nine Dutch universities aimed at improving students' mental wellbeing. The CU project consists of two components: 1) an annual online questionnaire assessing students' mental health; and 2) a platform offering free, guided eHealth interventions to enhance mental well-being.
One of the interventions on the CU platform - called LifeHack - seeks to enhance mental wellbeing by increasing resilience, teaching life skills, and strengthening mental wellbeing. LifeHack is a guided eHealth intervention based on cognitive behavioural therapy, comprising 13 modules of approximately 30 minutes each focusing on four themes (mood management, productivity, self-worth, and relationships). We investigated the effects of LifeHack with pre-post measurements (total n = 216 at post-test) and found that after following LifeHack, mental wellbeing improved with small to moderate effect sizes. Additionally, students reported satisfaction with the programme and the eCoach. However, participants indicated lack of motivation and early symptom reduction as important reasons for drop-out. Furthermore, the diverse topics covered in LifeHack may not be relevant to all students, leading to more dropouts.
Currently, there are two versions of LifeHack: one 'structured', where modules must be completed in order, and one 'free choice', where all modules are available from the start and none are mandatory. For the proposed study, the free choice version of LifeHack will be used and adapted in co-creation with students as follows: participants will be asked which topics they find most important and want to work on. Based on their answers, a personalized selection of modules will be presented, and students can choose which module to start with. Each module is standalone, allowing students to proceed to another module or stop after completing one or more. Each module has a clear structure, beginning with goal formulation and concluding with an action plan. The new adapted version of LifeHack will be personalized and tailored for each student, aiming to improve motivation and reduce dropout rates.
With the current study, we aim to examine the effectiveness of the adapted version of LifeHack in an RCT to enhance mental wellbeing in university students. Secondary objectives include investigating differences between the intervention and control groups on students' self-report questionnaire resilience scores, depression scores, anxiety scores, stress-related scores, and mental health quality of life scores (pretest vs post-test). Additional outcomes include satisfaction with the programme and the eCoach, as well as adherence to the intervention.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
NONE
Study Groups
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LifeHack
LifeHack is a guided (weekly feedback by a coach is provided) e-heath self-help application, which is based on cognitive behavioral techniques. The goal of LifeHack is to improve mental wellbeing.
The guided internet-based self-help programme LifeHack was developed based on existing literature and adapted in collaboration with university students. The programme comprises twelve modules that are delivered via computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. The modules take approximately 30 minutes on 4 themes (mood management, productivity, self-worth and relationships).
Guidance:
E-coaches will be trained clinical psychology master students. E-coaches will provide asynchronous written personalized feedback to each participant through the program platform within 48 hours (counting workdays only) after session completion. The aim of the written feedback is to increase motivation and adherence of the participants.
LifeHack
See arm description
Control group
Participants in the waiting list control condition will start with the programme 4 weeks after randomization.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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LifeHack
See arm description
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Being enrolled as a student at one of the 9 participating universities
* Being 16 years of age or older
* Having access to a PC or mobile device with internet access
* Provide informed consent before participation
* Score of 50 or lower on the MHC-SF. This is 1 SD above the mean baseline score of participants of LifeHack. This inclusion criterion ensures no students with optimal mental wellbeing are included because they will not be able to show any change.
16 Years
99 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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Maastricht University
OTHER
VU University of Amsterdam
OTHER
Utrecht University
OTHER
University of Amsterdam
OTHER
Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences
OTHER
Erasmus University Rotterdam
OTHER
Avans University of applied sciences
UNKNOWN
InHolland University of Applied Sciences
OTHER
Universiteit Leiden
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Sanne van Luenen
assistant professor in the Clinical Psychology unit at the Institute of Psychology
Principal Investigators
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Sanne van Luenen, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Leiden University
Locations
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VU Amsterdam
Amsterdam, , Netherlands
Leiden University
Leiden, , Netherlands
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Sanne van Luenen
Role: primary
Sanne van Luenen
Role: primary
Other Identifiers
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2023-10-30-S.vanLuenen-V1-506
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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