Efficacy of a Mind Space Application intervention on psychological outcomes in Thai university students with depression: A pilot randomized controlled trial.
Chuntana Reangsing, Katemanee Moonpanane, Kanittha Pittchalard, Joanne Kraenzle Schneider
Journal of affective disorders October 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.07.006 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAn 8-week mindfulness-based intervention delivered through the Mind Space Application led to large reductions in stress and depression and a large increase in mindfulness among Thai university students with depression, compared with a waitlist control group. Anxiety also decreased, but the change was small to moderate and not statistically significant. Fifty participants were randomly assigned to either the app intervention or the waitlist. The findings suggest that such applications could serve as an alternative or complement to other treatments for improving psychological outcomes in university student populations.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 50 |
| Population | Thai-university students with depression |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based intervention via the Mind Space Application |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Stress University students |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key finding | The Mind Space Application intervention produced large reductions in stress and depression and a large increase in mindfulness, but only a small, non-significant reduction in anxiety. |
Abstract
This purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the Mind Space Application on psychological outcomes among Thai-university students with depression. Thai-university students with depression (N = 50) were recruited between November 2021 and January 2022. Participants were randomly assigned to either an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention via the Mind Space Application intervention or a waitlist control group. Stress, anxiety, depression, and mindfulness were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Post-intervention, compared to waitlist control group, participants using the Mind Space Application reported large effects in the reduction of stress (d = 1.46, p < .001) and depression (d = 1.88, p < .001), small to moderate effects in reduction of anxiety (d = 0.35, p = .35), but no significant. Also, mindfulness scores were significantly higher (d = 1.90, p < .001) compared to the waitlist control group. Thai-university students with depression who used the Mind Space Application showed lower stress and depression and higher mindfulness compared to the waitlist group among. Similar applications may be useful as an alternative or combined with other treatments to improve psychological outcomes in other university student populations.