College of Social and Behavioral Science

111 Assessing the Accessibility and Feasibility of the WeBeWell Program

Diya Rao

Faculty Mentor: Marissa Diener (Psychology, Department of Family & Consumer Studies, University of Utah)

Abstract

There is an increasing prevalence of mental health issues among college students such that nearly one half of them report experiencing loneliness and over one-third have a mental health diagnosis (Abrams, 2022; ACHA, 2024; Lipson et al., 2019). These statistics highlight the need for multiple types of well-being and mental health programs to exist on college campuses. To ensure that these programs are effective, it is important to study participant feedback in order to understand the factors that influence their engagement with well-being and mental health programming. This research paper examines the accessibility and feasibility of the WeBeWell program for its college student participants at the University of Utah.

WeBeWell is a positive psychology intervention (PPI) whose aim is to enhance the mental health and well-being of its participants. The program spans six weeks and uses virtual support groups and web technology to teach concepts from positive psychology and cognitive behavioral therapy. Survey data from 626 participants were collected at the end of the program. Participants were recruited for the program through snowball sampling on campus, social media recruitment, and in-class visits. They were compensated $80 for their involvement. The study did not have a control group.

This study analyzed the qualitative data collected from participants through post- test surveys from 2021-2024 in order to explore their experiences with the program— suggestions for improvement, what they liked the most, what motivated them to stay in the program, their perceptions of the impact of the program on college enrollment, and factors that would have increased their lesson completion. This was done through analyzing open-ended questions in the post-test survey which sought to highlight various factors that influenced students’ engagement with the program such as program facilitators, app usability, and the structure of the sessions. The research shows the strengths and weaknesses of PPIs in the context of higher education so that similar programs can be improved in future iterations. Students enjoyed aspects such as group connection and perceived improvements in mental health, and suggested improvements in engagement strategies and more flexible scheduling times. By focusing on feedback from the participants, this study reveals the potential value in continuing investment into well-being and mental health programs like WeBeWell that are funded by universities.

Introduction

More than 60% of college students say that they have experienced mental health issues (Abrams, 2022). Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health issues were increasing among college students; 10 years of data from 2007-2017 collected by the Healthy Minds Study using responses from 155,026 college students across 196 campuses showed that mental health diagnoses increased from 22% to 36%, along with an increase in the prevalence of depression and suicidality (Lipson et al., 2019). In fact, an estimated 1 in 3 college students meets the criteria for a mental health diagnosis (Eisenberg et al., 2013). A survey conducted by the American College Health Association (ACHA) revealed that among 103,639 students from 154 institutions across the United States, 48.5% reported feelings of loneliness, 19.5% experienced serious psychological distress, and 25.9% screened positive for suicidal thoughts (ACHA, 2024).

This increase in mental health issues presents a challenge that universities need to address. Mental health challenges can and do significantly impact students’ academic performance and social interactions (Worsley et al., 2022). Thus, universities should work on fostering accessible and effective psychological interventions on their campuses if they want their students to succeed. Furthermore, understanding the determinants of program accessibility and feasibility will help researchers in improving the design of the interventions as well as ensuring positive outcomes for diverse student populations.

One promising approach to supporting college students’ mental health is the use of positive psychology interventions (PPIs), which have been shown to effectively promote mental health and overall well-being (Lim & Tierney, 2023). Positive psychology programs often focus on teaching participants practical skills related to gratitude, mindfulness, and strengths-based thinking; these skills are linked to an increase in life satisfaction and a decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety (Emmons & McCullough, 2003). Studies on PPIs indicate that the skills being taught during the intervention enable individuals to experience increased positive outlooks, behaviors, and feelings and decreased symptoms of depression (Seligman et al., 2005). The literature also suggests that engagement or lack thereof in PPIs could be influenced by factors such as the structure of the program, the effectiveness of the facilitators, and the usability of the technology for the interventions (Lyubomirsky & Layous, 2013).

However, even though PPIs have shown to be effective, there is other research that demonstrates that there are limitations in terms of their effectiveness, especially in virtual formats (Walsh et al., 2018). A meta-analysis of PPIs for community samples and for those with specific psychosocial problems found that face-to-face interventions were more effective than internet interventions (Bolier et al., 2013). However, college students have unique needs which impact the accessibility and feasibility of well-being programs. Some of these factors include having busy schedules, balancing multiple demands of working and taking classes, and transitioning to independent living (Travia et al., 2022). These sorts of issues suggest that online formats may enhance the accessibility and feasibility for college students as they eliminate the need for students to travel to the program location and allow them to participate in it in the comfort of their own homes, in between classes, or on their break at work. Furthermore, college students are digital natives and use technology for all dimensions of their lives; thus, they may be more comfortable with online formats than community samples were in 2013. However, to date, there is a lack of data collected on the accessibility and feasibility of online positive psychology interventions for college students. This research paper aims to fill that gap by examining the qualitative feedback from participants in the WeBeWell program at the University of Utah from 2021-2024.

The WeBeWell program is a positive psychology intervention that runs for six weeks per session; each session includes enough groups to accommodate the number of students interested, and each group consists of a maximum of 10 participants. Each week, the meetings focus on a different topic from positive psychology: well-being, strengths, goals, thinking traps, relationships, and mindfulness. Students receive an $80 stipend for completing the program and participating in the research. The content of this program is inspired by cognitive behavioral therapy, positive psychology, and mindfulness and uses virtual psychoeducation support groups to deliver its intervention. It is adapted from a curriculum that has been shown to be effective in randomized control trials (Heintzelman et al., 2020). The program also uses a paraprofessional model where student facilitators, who are usually past participants of the program, lead sessions with the support and direction from licensed clinicians.

The Present Study

The present study was designed to examine the accessibility and the feasibility of the WeBeWell program for college students from the point of view of the students themselves. The participants’ subjective experiences were examined to better understand how different program elements affected the students’ engagement in the PPI. Because the study focuses on feedback from the participants, it is appropriate to analyze the data qualitatively rather than quantitatively. A quantitative analysis of the program has already been completed. There is no control group, which shifts the focus of the study away from comparing outcomes and towards exploring the program’s internal mechanisms of retention and engagement strategies. This approach is consistent with other research that aims to identify the challenges and strengths of mental health programs.

Methods

Participants

The sample consisted of 626 students, belonging to both undergraduate and graduate student populations, who completed the WeBeWell program from 2021-2024. The eligibility criteria to participate in the program included all currently enrolled students at The University of Utah. The program was advertised to students, and students selected into the program. The sample size was determined by the number of students WeBeWell was able to recruit within a specific time frame, i.e., approximately 3-4 weeks before the start of a program session. There were no exclusion criteria for this study, barring students that were not currently enrolled at The University of Utah. The sample gender distribution was as follows: female (n = 569, 71.48%), male (n = 206, 25.88%), non-binary (n = 17, 2.14%), transgender (n = 3, 0.38%), and non-disclosed (n = 1, 0.13%). Of all the students who reported their race and ethnicity, the majority self- identified as belonging to a Black Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC) community (n = 436, 55.19%), and more than a third (n = 308, 38.69%) as first-generation college students whose parents have not attained a college degree. Participants were White or European American (n = 354, 44.81%), Asian (n = 160, 20.25%), Hispanic or Latinx (n = 115, 14.56%), Black or African American (n = 84, 10.63%), multiple races and ethnicities (n = 66, 8.35%), American Indian or Alaska Native (n = 6, 0.76%), and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (n = 5, 0.63%). Demographic information was collected only during the pre-survey and not in the post-survey, which accounts for discrepancies in participant numbers. This variation is attributed to two forms of attrition: (1) students who registered to participate but did not attend any sessions, and (2) students who started the program but discontinued participation before completing at least five of the six required sessions necessary for full program completion.

Procedure

Data for this study were collected at the University of Utah campus between October 2021 to June 2024. Participants were recruited 8 times over the course of this 3- year period. During each recruiting period, participants were split up into groups of approximately 10 students each. Each group met on the same day and time each week over the course of 6 weeks. They completed a consent form and pre-survey on Qualtrics before the start of the program and a post-survey approximately 1 week after the program ended. The pre- and post-tests both included various scales of well-being. The data that were analyzed in this paper includes the qualitative data collected from the post-test survey on students’ positive and negative feedback on the program, and various questions relating to accessibility and feasibility. There was no control group for this study. The study was approved by the IRB (IRB_00140200).

Session facilitators ran the weekly groups. WeBeWell primarily hired student paraprofessionals to facilitate groups. Facilitators hosted sessions on Zoom and followed a script and slideshow created by licensed clinicians that went along with each weekly lesson. The scripts ensured that all participants received the same information in as similar a manner as possible, and the slideshows helped summarize the information being discussed in a digestible manner. The student participants were also required to use a device to join the virtual sessions.

Measures

There were 7 questions included in the post-survey that asked about students’ subjective perspectives on the program, relating to the accessibility and feasibility of it. Two of the questions yielded either generic responses or very few responses that did not provide clear answers to the questions being asked; hence, we chose to omit them from this study. The eliminated questions asked about feedback for group facilitators and general feedback for the WeBeWell program. Below is a list of the 5 qualitative questions that were analyzed in this paper and their short form names used for the figures in the next section.

1. What, if anything, could we improve about the program? Was there anything you disliked or would change?

  • Short form name: Program Improvement Feedback

2. What did you like most about the program and why?

  • Short form name: Favorite Aspects of the Program

3. (Optional) What kept you in the program over the weeks? Why did you choose to stick with it and complete it?

  • Short form name: Motivations for Completing the Program

4. If you answered “Yes” to “Did this program help you stay enrolled in college?”, could you please tell us how the program helped you stay enrolled (in college)?

  • Short form name: Impact of the Program on College Enrollment

5. (Optional) If you didn’t complete the lesson on the app/website each week, what would have increased your likelihood of doing it?

  • Short form name: Factors to Increase Lesson Completion

A coding guide was created through an iterative process by two researchers who reviewed the participants’ responses. The guide was created via a thematic analysis method, where data are reviewed and responses are organized via commonly repeated themes. Some responses included one single theme, resulting in one code, whereas other responses included multiple themes, resulting in multiple codes. The researchers reviewed a sample of the responses for each question and identified possible codes, revising them after coding the data separately and later discussing any discrepancies.

Once the coding scheme was finalized, the two researchers coded a subset of the data to establish interrater reliability. Solutions to all discrepancies were agreed upon prior to the remaining data being coded. To calculate interrater reliability (IRR) scores, the percent agreement formula was used. Percent agreement for all of the coding categories were 93% or higher prior to a single researcher completing the rest of the data coding. Coding guides and corresponding examples for the five questions are presented in Tables 1-5.

Table 1

Coding Guide: Program Improvement Feedback

Program Improvement Feedback

Theme

Example Quote

None

“Nothing.”

Scheduling and Organization

“Provide some flexibility in the time/day of the meetings.”

Content

“More meditation practice.”

Engagement

“It was a tiny bit boring in the session at times.”

Technology

“The app sometimes lags.”

In-person

“I would have liked it better in person.”

Belonging

“It’s hard to share or connect online.”

Increase Duration

“I do think it could have been longer.”

Reminders

“I think it would be nice if the app gave us reminders.”

Repeated Content for Returnees

“Try changing out the syllabus so that repeating students can learn something new.”

Table 2

Coding Guide: Favorite Aspects of the Program

Favorite Aspects of the Program

Theme

Example Quote

Group Connection

“It was really a beautiful group and we shared a lot of laughter and vulnerability.”

Engaging Learning

“The videos, frameworks, and assignments we were given made it feel very engaging and rewarding.”

Personal Growth

“I also really liked the real-life applications we were asked to do and reflect on. It helped to identify areas and situations in my life I was already using and display the traits talked about in class, and helped me live more intentionally.”

Dedicated Time

“I liked having an hour each week to look forward to, to be able to talk about how I was feeling and find ways to communicate better.”

Safe Space

“I love that I had the opportunity to have a safe space and to meet people who were non-judgmental.”

Belonging

“It was really nice to be able to hear people were dealing with similar things that I was and it made me feel less alone.”

Supportive Facilitators

“The facilitators were always so kind and supportive.”

Mood Boost

“Oftentimes I’d go through my day in such a better mood because of [the facilitators] and what they taught me.”

Stress Relief

“It helps me to [un]wind and relieve stress.”

Stipend

“Honestly, the pay.”

Table 3

Coding Guide: Motivations for Completing the Program

Motivations for Completing the Program

Theme

Example Quote

Group Support

“The facilitators and an incredible group of people that were all there to learn and grow.”

Personal Growth

“The need to learn how to improve my well being.”

Relevant Content

“The different lessons that were available weekly. I wanted to learn about all the strategies available in the program.”

Stipend

“I was motivated by the $80.”

Routine

“It was nice to take a break and do something for me once a week.”

Mental Health Improvement

“The positive effects on my mental health.”

Generic Positive Responses

“I enjoyed it.”

Fun

“It was fun.”

Table 4

Coding Guide: Impact of Program on College Enrollment

Impact of Program on College Enrollment

Theme

Example Quote

Personal Growth

“This helped me become confident in myself and survive/thrive versus constantly reflecting on why I’m never going to graduate because someone else is doing better than I.”

Stress Reduction

“This program helped to manage stress which helps me stay in school.”

Social Support

“Helped me stay enrolled by having a small community of people to help and support me.”

Gratitude

“Recognizing my strengths and expressing gratitude weekly helped me understand my competence in achieving my academic and professional goals.”

Relatability (being able to relate to others because of shared experiences)

“This program really helped me become aware that I’m not alone with having difficulties with being totally engaged in college. Others in my group were facing similar issues, so that was good to relate to them.”

Mental Health Improvement

“Taking care of my mental health makes it a lot easier to stay in school.”

Dedicated Well-Being Practice

“Offered support and discipline and structure to my weeks.”

Improved Relationships

“It helped me better my relationships with my peers, during which I learned that college is more fun when I can socialize with others.”

Table 5

Coding Guide: Factors to Increase Lesson Completion

Factors to Increase Lesson Completion

Theme

Example Quote

Improvement in Technology

“An easier app to navigate.”

Engagement Issues

“I think I would have done so more often if the lessons were more interactive, asked questions, or made you evaluate things about yourself.”

More Reminders

“Reminders near the end of the week would have been nice. I often forget about it, especially on busy weeks.”

Time Flexibility

“It had nothing to do with the program, it was about how much other stuff was going on outside of the program that limited my time to put into the lessons.”

Reward Incentives

“Maybe having an incentive would be better.”

Results

The total number of codes applied among all responses was 2,122. Responses are organized in descending order from the most frequent themes to the least frequent ones. Figures 1-5 present the frequency of emergent themes through a visual representation.

Bar chart with red bars
Figure 1. Program Improvement Feedback.

The first question asked about program improvement. Nearly half (44.10%) of the participants who answered this question said that there was nothing they would change about the program. Scheduling and overall program organization issues were the most frequently suggested improvements, mentioned by 11.31% of students. Following that, some participants made suggestions for improving the content that was disseminated throughout the program (9.53%). Others also mentioned concerns about the technology interface of the program, citing issues such as lag and general confusion with navigating the platform. A small minority of the participants wanted the option to complete the program in person, rather than on Zoom. Other suggestions included increasing a sense of belonging and improving engagement during the session. Some also wished that there were more reminders for them to complete the lessons on the website. Additionally, a small portion of the participants wanted the program to be extended and the content to be expanded. Some students who had completed the program in prior semesters voiced that they wished the program content was different for each session they attended the program as a repeat participant.

Bar chart.
Figure 2. Favorite Aspects of the Program

The second question asked participants what they liked most about the program. The most frequent aspect of the program that participants mentioned was the positive group experience (29.28%). Another frequent response was that participants (27.62%) enjoyed the engaging content, and about 10% said that their favorite thing was the personal growth they experienced throughout the program. Participants also mentioned that they appreciated having dedicated time to focus on their own well-being amidst their busy schedules. In addition, some participants mentioned that they enjoyed the safe space provided by the program, the sense of belonging the program provided, and the socialsupport offered by the facilitators of the program. Some perceived an improvement in their mood and a decrease in their stress levels. A small portion of the participants said that the stipend for participating was their favorite component of the program.

Bar chart with red bars
Figure 3. Motivations for Completing the Program.

The third question asked participants what kept them motivated to complete the program. Approximately one-fifth of participants said that the people in the program (fellow students and group facilitators) helped keep them in the program over the course of the 6 weeks. About 1 in 5 others said that they attended because they made a personal commitment to themselves to work on their mental health by following through on this program. In addition, another 18.84% said that the relevant content that was discussed during sessions helped them stick with the program. Of note, 16.33% of the respondents stated that the stipend motivated them to complete the program. Other factors that helped student participants stay motivated to complete the program were having a dedicated time every week to join the program and work on their well-being, a perceived improvement in their mental health, and an overall fun experience. Two-and-a-half percent mentioned generic positive responses about the program.

Bar chart with red bars.
Figure 4. Impact of Program on College Enrollment.

If the participants answered yes to the question about the program helping them stay enrolled in college, they were asked to describe how it did. Nearly half of participants who said that the program helped them stay enrolled in college (41.55%) said that the primary reason was that the program helped them improve as a person through becoming more motivated and resilient. Participants (15.49%) also experienced a perceived reduction in stress, and 10.56% said that the supportive community helped them stay enrolled. Students also mentioned that they started demonstrating more gratitude, relating to other students, improving their well-being, having a dedicated routine every week, and building relationships with others, all of which were perceived as contributing factors that facilitated their enrollment in college.

Bar chart with red bars
Figure 5. Factors to Increase Lesson Completion.

The fifth question asked participants what factors would have helped them complete the lessons on the website each week. Among the students who responded to this question, the main reasons they did not complete the lessons on the website were engagement issues regarding the content of the lessons (22.41%), technical issues with the website (20.69%), and a lack of reminders to complete the lessons (20.69%). Participants also reported having time constraints due to their demanding schedules and also included that additional incentives may have increased their motivation to complete the lessons.

Discussion

Key Findings

Social Support, Belonging, and Connectedness

One of the most prominent findings from the data was the impact that group connection had in fostering engagement and retention among student participants. Many participants noted that the supportive community they found within the WeBeWell program, be it through group facilitators or peers, was important to them. They cited that they felt “supported and heard” and mentioned that everyone “was very supportive of each other.” There is research that supports these findings, demonstrating that social support is a salutogenic resource that is vital to our health, especially in supporting our mental wellbeing (Drageset, 2021). Participants also said that the social support in the program helped reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, which fostered a sense of belonging and connection with their peers. This sense of community is key to their continued participation, with one participating stating that they felt “validated and not alone in [their] feelings.”

Mental Health Benefits and Personal Growth

Another major theme in the results was how the program had a perceived positive impact on mental health. Participants mentioned aspects of the program that helped their overall mental health and well-being, such as stress management and mood improvement. One participant wrote, “taking care of my mental health makes it a lot easier to stay in school.” This response highlights the connection found in the literature between well-being and academic persistence, demonstrating that one’s mental health significantly contributes to academic and social integration, which are both major determinants of academic persistence (Hartley, 2011). This particular finding suggests that PPIs like WeBeWell could be an effective tool for retention in universities that are looking to support the success of their students or decrease the attrition rate of the students currently enrolled in their college.

Participants also emphasized that they valued and experienced significant personal growth throughout their time in the program. Several noted that the program encouraged intentional self-reflection and that they likely would not have taken the time to focus on their well-being if they were not enrolled in the program. Some students also mentioned that the program helped them increase their confidence and resilience to life’s challenges. These findings suggest that participants engaged with the PPI as a support system for a community but also as a tool for their personal growth and development, which could contribute to longer-term health benefits.

Engagement and Delivery Format

Engagement levels in the program varied despite participants valuing the content and community. Some found the videos on the website boring, and others found the weekly discussion boring and repetitive. One person said that “the videos were a little boring sometimes but [that] they watched all of them so [they] could learn.” A few participants also said that the slideshow that was shown during the weekly discussion was sometimes repetitive with the content on the website they were asked to have read prior to the session. A handful of participants had also completed the program in past semesters; ten of them mentioned that the content was repetitive and that they would have liked to learn something new each time they completed the program. Other students also mentioned that “it [was] hard to share and connect online” and that they might have “liked it better in-person.” This suggests that while virtual programming could increase accessibility, in-person or even hybrid options could be more engaging for some individuals.

Program Structure and Scheduling

The feedback that was received from participants on the structure and scheduling of the program suggests that having more flexibility in scheduling options and sending out more reminders could improve participation in the program. Some participants expressed that they would like to have more scheduling options, whether it was more time slots they could sign up for, increasing the duration of the sessions themselves or the program as a whole, or being able to switch to a different group each week based on their availability. One reason the last option may not be as feasible is that one of the most important parts of the program, the strong sense of community in the group, would be harder to cultivate if students were interacting with different students each week. They may be less likely to build upon the relationships they created with their peers from the previous week, and it would be harder to gain and earn trust from their peers when sharing vulnerable experiences.

In addition, some participants mentioned that sending out reminders about the weekly meeting time as well as reminders to view the content on the website would have been beneficial. Other participants stated that they liked the reminders that were sent out and that it helped them stay enrolled in the program. Two suggestions for greater consistency and improvement are: (1) standardizing communication across all group facilitators to ensure that reminders are being sent out in a timely manner, and (2) sending more mid-week reminders, as this was frequently mentioned among those who suggested having more reminders. These reminders could be sent via text, as a reason some participants may not have completed the content on the website was that they did not receive notifications—regardless of whether group facilitators had sent them or not.

Previous research shows that small nudges, like reminders, can increase the feasibility of program completion among participants (Knoepke et al., 2020).

Financial Incentives

Many students were intrinsically motivated to join the program, but the monetary incentive also played a role in their retention and completion. Sixty-five students mentioned that the stipend acted as an incentive for program completion and three students said their favorite part of the program was the stipend. Incentives can enhance recruitment and increase participation and completion in the program, but another important consideration is whether financial compensation affects long-term engagement with the content of the program as well as intrinsic motivation in a PPI. The crowding out effect is defined as an extrinsic motivator reducing intrinsic motivation, which could play a role in determining a solution to this conflict (Promberger & Marteau, 2013). Although incentives can boost an initial sense of engagement, the crowding out effect suggests that external forms of rewards such as stipends could potentially diminish intrinsic motivation among the participants over time. This raises the question of whether financial compensation fosters continued commitment to the purpose of the program rather than simply sustaining participation for the duration of the incentive period.

Implications

These findings suggest that future iterations of the program could potentially benefit from more enhanced engagement strategies such as incorporating more interactive elements in the discussion, creating incentives to view the readings and videos on the website, and also varying the content for participants who have already completed the program in the past. In addition, the difference between in-person, hybrid, and virtual formats could be studied to determine how to improve connection and belonging, as well as to increase engagement. Further, implementing some sort of scheduling flexibility or reminder systems could support retention in the program.

Strengths

One of the main strengths of the study is that it has a participant-centered approach, where students were able to share their personal experiences regarding the accessibility and feasibility of program completion. The thematic analysis of this qualitative data captured and presented the feedback in a more nuanced manner than a quantitative approach, as participants were able to freely share their thoughts without the restrictions of a close-ended questionnaire. In addition, the study boasted both a large and diverse sample in terms of race, ethnicity, and first-generation status, thus enhancing the generalizability of the findings to the broader student population. The high interrater reliability of the study also provides greater credibility of the findings.

Limitations and Future Research Directions

There were some limitations to this study. Although both researchers developed the coding scheme and coded a subset of the data for each question to determine the interrater reliability score, the remainder of the data was coded by a single researcher. This could introduce potential bias in the coding as there could have been coding drift where one coder drifted from the coding scheme over time. A potential solution is to have at least two researchers coding each response across all of the data to minimize bias and ensure that the data were coded as accurately as possible. In addition, a mixed-methods study could have been conducted to connect the responses to the open-ended questions with mental health outcomes, which the study also collected data on. Further, the WeBeWell program sent out the survey, so participants may have responded more positively as opposed to if there had been an external evaluator who was more neutral and to whom the participants might have felt more comfortable giving negative feedback to. Additionally, it could provide valuable insight to research “season” as a variable in the study, to determine if the weather impacted students’ participation in the program. For instance, in winter months, students might have benefited from the program more due to experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD) whereas in the warmer months, students might not feel as isolated because they can spend more time outdoors where research shows that there is a lower likelihood of developing SAD (Appalachian State University Counseling Center, n.d.). Lastly, and perhaps the largest limitation to the study is that feedback from students for whom the program didn’t work was not collected because they didn’t complete the program or post-survey. The attrition may have been selective as only feedback from students who stayed in the program was examined.

Conclusion

The study’s findings suggest that the WeBeWell program successfully promotes well-being in college students and supports a model that is both accessible and feasible for participants. The virtual format of the program was beneficial to many students, with participants reporting that the program allowed them to form meaningful connections with their peers, the content was easy to engage with, and that it was a valuable tool in helping them learn how to manage their overall well-being. These insights suggest that other similar virtual and community-based interventions can be adapted as well as scaled to support student well-being. Other studies and PPIs can build on this model while refining certain engagement strategies and expanding the accessibility to reach even more students.

Bibliography

Abrams, Z. (2022, October 1). Student mental health is in crisis. Campuses are rethinking their approach. American Psychological Association. Retrieved September 3, 2024, from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/10/mental-health- campus-care.

American College Health Association (ACHA). (2024). National College Health Assessment: Spring 2024 Reference Group Executive Summary. https://www.acha.org/wp-content/uploads/NCHAIIIb_SPRING_2024_REFERENCE_GROUP_EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY.pdf

Appalachian State University Counseling Center. (n.d.). Winter Blues/Seasonal Affective Disorder. Counseling & Psychological Services. https://counseling.appstate.edu/pagesmith/212

Bolier L., Haverman M., Kramer J., Westerhof G.J., Riper H., Walburg J.A.…BohlmeijerE. An internet-based intervention to promote mental fitness for mildly depressed adults: randomized controlled trial. J. Med. Internet Res. 2013;15:e200. doi: 10.2196/jmir.2603

Drageset, J. (2021). Health Promotion in Health Care Vital Theories and Research. Springer. Chapter 11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585650/. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-63135-2_11

Eisenberg, D., Hunt, J., & Speer, N. (2013). Mental health in American colleges and universities: variation across student subgroups and across campuses. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 201(1), 60–67. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e31827ab077

Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377–389. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.377

Hartley M. T. (2011). Examining the relationships between resilience, mental health, and academic persistence in undergraduate college students. Journal of American College Health: J of ACH, 59(7), 596–604. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2010.515632

Heintzelman, S. J., Kushlev, K., Lutes, L. D., Wirtz, D., Kanippayoor, J. M., Leitner, D., Oishi, S., & Diener, E. (2020). ENHANCE: Evidence for the efficacy of a comprehensive intervention program to promote subjective well-being. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 26(2), 360–383. https://doi.org/10.1037/xap0000254

Knoepke, C. E., Portz, J. D., Waughtal, J., Hernandez, A., Ho, M., Bull, S., Sandy, L., & Glorioso, T. (2020). Case Example From the Nudge Study – Rethinking Clinical Trials. NIH Collaboratory. https://rethinkingclinicaltrials.org/chapters/conduct/real-world-evidence-mobile- health-mhealth/case-example-from-the-nudge-study/

Lim, W. L., & Tierney, S. (2023). The Effectiveness of Positive Psychology Interventions for Promoting Well-being of Adults Experiencing Depression Compared to Other Active Psychological Treatments: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Happiness Studies, 24(1), 249–273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00598-z

Lipson, S. K., Lattie, E. G., & Eisenberg, D. (2019). Increased Rates of Mental Health Service Utilization by U.S. College Students: 10-Year Population-Level Trends (2007-2017). Psychiatric Services (Washington, D.C.), 70(1), 60–63. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201800332

Lyubomirsky, S., & Layous, K. (2013). How do simple positive activities increase well- being? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 22(1), 57–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721412469809

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Policy and Global Affairs, Board on Health Sciences Policy, Board on Higher Education and Workforce, & Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Wellbeing in STEMM Undergraduate and Graduate Education. (2021). Mental health, substance use, and wellbeing in higher education: Supporting the whole student (L. A. Scherer & A. I. Leshner, Eds.). National Academies Press. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK567369/

Promberger, M., & Marteau, T. M. (2013). When do financial incentives reduce intrinsic motivation? Comparing behaviors studied in psychological and economic literatures. Health Psychology: Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 32(9), 950–957. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032727

Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive Psychology Progress: Empirical Validation of Interventions. American Psychologist, 60(5), 410–421. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.60.5.410

The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. (2024, April). Working Students: Balancing Academic and Work Lives. The Council on Undergraduate Research. https://www.cur.org/working-students-balancing-academic-and-work-lives/

Travia, R. M., Larcus, J. G., Andes, S., & Gomes, P. G. (2022). Framing well-being in a college campus setting. Journal of American College Health: J of ACH, 70(3), 758–772. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1763369

Walsh, S., Szymczynska, P., Taylor, S. J. C., & Priebe, S. (2018). The acceptability of an online intervention using positive psychology for depression: A qualitative study. Internet Interventions, 13, 60–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2018.07.003

Worsley, J. D., Pennington, A., & Corcoran, R. (2022). Supporting mental health and wellbeing of university and college students: A systematic review of review-level evidence of interventions. PloS One, 17(7), e0266725. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266725


About the author

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

RANGE: Undergraduate Research Journal (2025) Copyright © 2025 by University of Utah is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.