A Bot-based Self-help Program (WELL)

Summary

In the current project, the effectiveness of a new bot-based universal prevention program aimed at improving well-being will be developed and tested. This prevention program includes a variety of modules that target common areas related to well-being including interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation, beliefs and behaviors, problem-solving, sleep hygiene, goal setting, personal growth, and healthy habits.

Conditions

• Well-Being, Psychological

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Conversational Agent Zenny

The intervention group involves a newly developed conversational agent self-care program. This program consists of 40 separate modules based on empirically supported techniques. Modules include the following core sections: cognitive behavioral skills, interpersonal relationships, positive psychological growth, relaxation, goal setting, and emotional regulation skills. The modules focus on cognitive-behavioral skills for reducing emotional distress, improving behavioral activation and healthy behaviors, and problem-solving skills. The intervention was delivered via a decision-tree based conversational agent in WhatsApp messenger.

BEHAVIORAL

Web-based Wellness Resources

The control group involved referral to a menu of freely-available evidence-based wellness resources linked from the study website, "Your Healthiest Self: Wellness Toolkits", "Doing What Matters in Times of Stress", and "How Right Now". These website choices involved self-selection of relevant modules for improving mood, reducing stress and anxiety, addressing relationship problems, and other wellness topics. These programs required only access to the websites and could be completed in a self-help format by participants at their own pace.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Meta Platforms, Inc.

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Klagenfurt

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Heather M Heather, Ph.D. · University of Klagenfurt

• Y-Lan Boureau, Ph.D. · Meta Platforms

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-07-04

Primary Completion

2024-03-20

Completion

2024-03-20

Countries

• United States

Study Locations