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Web-Based ACT Program for College Student Mental Health

A planned study to prevent mental health problems in college students through a web-based ACT program. The program aims to address issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, and substance abuse, while increasing general well-being and functioning. The website offers interactive sessions, quizzes, forums, and customizable content to engage and support students. Tailoring and targeting features allow for personalization based on gender, problem area, distress level, and motivation. The study explores the feasibility and effectiveness of the program in a large-scale implementation. Potential issues and questions include conducting low-intensity ACT, gaining student buy-in, targeting and tailoring content, and implementation at universities.

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Web-Based ACT Program for College Student Mental Health

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  1. Prevention of College Student Mental Health Problems Through a Web-Based ACT Program: A Planned Study Michael Levin, John Seeley, Jacqueline Pistorello & Steven Hayes

  2. EA as a Core Process Treatment Dropout General Well Being/Functioning Experiential Avoidance Depression Psychosis Burnout & Stress Anxiety Work Performance Chronic Pain Parenting Behaviors Eating Disorders Stigma/ Prejudice Borderline PD Health Care Utilization Substance Abuse Weight Loss/ Maintenance Chronic Medical Problems • Recent Reviews: Biglan, Hayes & Pistorello, 2008; Chawla & Ostafin, 2007; Hayes et al., 2006

  3. Experiential Avoidance ACT vs. Comparisons Mediational Analyses Depression Anxiety Mental Health Self Harm Chronic Pain Chronic Illness Weight Smoking Stigma • Hayes et al., 2006; Levin, Hayes & Vilardaga, 2009

  4. ACT as a Prevention Approach • Can we use ACT to reduce experiential avoidance with non-clinical populations • to prevent the development and exacerbation of mental health problems? • How would we disseminate/implement this program at a large scale?

  5. Benefits of e-Health • Ease of dissemination/implementation • Customizing content to user needs • Increasing engagement • Convenience, access, & privacy • May reduce stigma

  6. ACT is Suited for Online Format • Findings from self-help books • Flexibility in implementing ACT • Experiential focus • Use of metaphors

  7. ACT on College and Life • SBIR funded project • Develop and test an online ACT intervention for incoming college students • Phase I - proof of concept • Develop 2-3 sessions • Test usability and feasibility in a RCT with 70 students

  8. Website Overview • Interactive, multimedia website • Multiple sessions • 8, 20 minute sessions • Tunneled sequence • Self-guided

  9. Overview of Sessions • Choosing your valued direction (Values) • Dealing with your passengers (Acceptance) • Not buying into what passengers say (Defusion) • Noticing your passengers for what they are (Mindfulness) • Noticing who is driving (Self-as-context) • Driving with your passengers (Psychological flexibility) • Committed action: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance use, stress, relationships

  10. Interactive Content • Quizzes; Pull down tabs; Writing exercises • Printable materials • Experiential exercises & Gaming options • Forums: Video blog; Ask an expert; User polls • User feedback • Email/text messages • User customization • Homework • Optional content • Workbook: Assessments; Journaling; Bookmark content

  11. Tailoring and Targeting • Target by • Gender • Problem area • Level of distress • Motivation • Additional tailoring based on user responses

  12. Current Stage of Project • Conducted focus groups with 13 college students • Initial commercialization research • Beginning website design • Considering a more independent module design

  13. Potential Issues/Questions • How do we conduct “low intensity” ACT? • How to get buy in from students? • Does this only work with those who are distressed? • How do we best target and tailor content in ACT? • Do we need personal contact? • How would we implement this at a large scale with Universities?

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