Mobile Acceptance and Commitment Therapy With Distressed First-Generation College Students: Microrandomized Trial

Abstract

Background Extant gaps in mental health services are intensified among first-generation college students. Improving access to empirically based interventions is critical, and mobile health (mHealth) interventions are growing in support. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an empirically supported intervention that has been applied to college students, via mobile app, and in brief intervals. Objective This study evaluated the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of an ACT-based mHealth intervention using a microrandomized trial (MRT) design. Methods Participants (N=34) were 18- to 19-year-old first-generation college students reporting distress, who participated in a 6-week intervention period of twice-daily assessments and randomization to intervention. Participants logged symptoms, moods, and behaviors on the mobile app Lorevimo. After the assessment, participants were randomized to an ACT-based intervention or no intervention. Analyses examined proximal change after randomization using a weighted and centered least squares approach. Outcomes included values-based and avoidance behavior, as well as depressive symptoms and perceived stress. Results The findings indicated the intervention was safe and feasible. The intervention increased values-based behavior but did not decrease avoidance behavior. The intervention reduced depressive symptoms but not perceived stress. Conclusions An MRT of an mHealth ACT-based intervention among distressed first-generation college students suggests that a larger MRT is warranted. Future investigations may tailor interventions to contexts where intervention is most impactful. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04081662; https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT04081662 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/17086