Psychological distress is prevalent amongst young people, with the percentage increasing from 18.7% in 2012 to 24.2% in 2018. Extensive psychological distress present in university students is concerning to Australian university administrators, their students and families, as this is linked to poor outcomes, including discontinuation of study, impaired academic performance, and risk of suicide attempt. There is strong evidence that psychological distress can be reduced through psychological interventions, including those targeting mindfulness, exercise and sleep.
This smartphone app for university students aims to reduce distress and improve mental wellbeing through a brief two-week intervention of mindfulness, physical activity, or sleep hygiene. Although the three interventions use different treatment strategies, they are loosely matched on time and effort required by participants. The three interventions will be compared to an active control condition, in which participants are asked to monitor their mood throughout the day.
This research study has been reviewed and approved by the University of New South Wales Human Research Ethics Committee (Reference no. HC 200466).