Development and clinical trial of a comprehensive mental health promotion program for university students by using smartphone apps

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K14191
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 10030:Clinical psychology-related
• Research Institution: Hokusho University
• Principal Investigator: Irie Tomonari 北翔大学, 教育文化学部, 准教授 (90787730)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 精神的健康 / 大学生 / 学生相談 / 認知行動療法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a psychotherapy-based program using mobile devices to promote mental health among university students.
The results of the survey and review revealed that university students prefer application-based programs among health care approaches using mobile devices. Therefore, we developed a psychotherapy application based on a web application. The content of the application was based on behavioral activation therapy, which is expected to be effective in a short period of time, by referring to previous studies. As a result of the clinical trial, the application was found to be sufficiently effective in promoting the mental health of university students.

Free Research Field

臨床心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

半数近くの大学生が悩みを抱えている一方、大学におけるメンタルヘルスサービスである学生相談室を利用する大学生の割合は5％程度であることが知られている。本研究で開発したアプリは、学生相談室を利用することにためらいのある大学生にも提供可能なサービスであることから、現代の大学におけるメンタルヘルスサービスが抱える課題である、来談率の低さに対して、その解決の一助となるといえるであろう。