A Guided, Internet-Based Stress Management Intervention for University Students With High Levels of Stress: Feasibility and Acceptability Study

Abstract

Background Transitioning to adulthood and challenges in university life can result in increased stress levels among university students. Chronic and severe stress is associated with deleterious psychological and physiological effects. Digital interventions could succeed in approaching and helping university students who might be at risk; however, the experiences of students with internet-based stress management interventions are insufficiently understood. Objective This study aims to explore the feasibility; acceptability; and changes in perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and quality of life from baseline to posttest assessment of a 5-session, internet-based stress management intervention guided by an e-coach, developed for university students experiencing high levels of stress. Methods A single-arm study was conducted. Students were recruited from different channels, mainly from a web survey. Students were eligible if they (1) scored ≥20 on the Perceived Stress Scale–10, (2) were aged ≥18 years, and (3) were studying at one of the participating universities. Feasibility and acceptability of the intervention were investigated using several indications, including satisfaction (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire–8) and usability (System Usability Scale–10). We also investigated the indicators of intervention adherence using use metrics (eg, the number of completed sessions). Our secondary goal was to explore the changes in perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale–10), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire–9), and quality of life (EQ-5D-5L scale) from baseline to posttest assessment. In addition, we conducted semistructured interviews with intervention completers and noncompleters to understand user experiences in depth. For all primary outcomes, descriptive statistics were calculated. Changes from baseline to posttest assessment were examined using 2-tailed paired sample t tests or the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Of 436 eligible students, 307 (70.4%) students started using the intervention. Overall, 25.7% (79/307) completed the core sessions (ie, sessions 1-3) and posttest assessment. A substantial proportion of the students (228/307, 74.3%) did not complete the core sessions or the posttest assessment. Students who completed the core sessions reported high satisfaction (mean 25.78, SD 3.30) and high usability of the intervention (mean 86.01, SD 10.25). Moreover, this group showed large reductions in perceived stress (Cohen d=0.80) and moderate improvements in depression score (Cohen d=0.47) and quality of life (Cohen d=−0.35) from baseline to posttest assessment. Qualitative findings highlight that several personal and intervention-related factors play a role in user experience. Conclusions The internet-based stress management intervention seems to be feasible, acceptable, and possibly effective for some university students with elevated stress levels. However, given the high dropout rate and qualitative findings, several adjustments in the content and features of the intervention are needed to maximize the user experience and the impact of the intervention. Trial Registration Netherlands Trial Register 8686; https://onderzoekmetmensen.nl/nl/trial/20889 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1016/j.invent.2021.100369