Promoting wellbeing: A randomized controlled trial of the web-based Five Ways to Wellbeing for All Intervention (Preprint)

Abstract

Background: Compromised wellbeing constitutes a major threat to individuals and societies worldwide, and resource-intensive psychological treatment alone cannot solve this burden. There is a need for low-cost evidence-based preventive and wellbeing promotive interventions. Five activity domains seem to be associated with wellbeing promotion across populations (i.e., connecting with others, being active, taking notice, learning, and being generous/giving). These activities are included in the Five Ways to Wellbeing-framework and the web-based intervention Five Ways to Wellbeing for All (5waysA).

The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to test the effects of the 5waysA, a web-based, low-cost, wellbeing-promotive measure targeting the general population. To date, the Five Ways to Wellbeing framework has not been tested in such a format. The 5waysA consists of two webinars and SMS-reminders over a 10-week period.

Study participants (n=969) from all over Norway were openly recruited via a webpage and randomized into an intervention group (IG) or one of two waiting list control groups (WL), active or passive, in 2021. Self-reported life satisfaction, flourishing and positive emotions were measured prior to, four weeks into and 1-2 weeks after the intervention (10 weeks). Data were analyzed using linear mixed (multilevel) models.

Results: 453 participants (n=171 IG, n=282 WL) were measured on the outcome variables after 10 weeks (53 % drop-out). We observed a significantly greater increase in the intervention group compared to the controls for SWLS (b = 0.13, 95 % CI 0.03 to 0.23, P =.012), FS (b =0.19, 95 % CI 0.08 to 0.30, P =.001), positive emotions (b = 0.43, 95 % CI 0.27 to 0.60, P <.001) and these combined in a Global wellbeing measure (b =0.28, CI 0.16 to 0.39, P <.001). Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) for the wellbeing outcomes ranged from .30 to .49.

The results indicate that the web-based 5WaysA is an effective means to promote wellbeing in the general population. The study provides individuals, policymakers and local stakeholders with an effective, easily administrated and low-cost wellbeing intervention.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrail.gov Identifier: NCT04784871 The Open Science Network Identifier: qephs