J Ment Health. 2025 Feb 21:1-10. doi: 10.1080/09638237.2025.2460123. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Digitally native university students face challenges to their well-being and up to a third develop mental health problems. “Whitu: seven ways in seven days” is an app based on positive psychology, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and psychoeducation principles.
METHODS: Ninety-first year university students (45 per arm) participated in a randomised controlled trial of Whitu against a university self-help website (“Be Well”). Primary outcomes were changes in well-being on the World Health Organisation 5-item well-being index (WHO-5) and the short Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale (SWEMWBS). Secondary outcomes were changes in depression, anxiety, self-compassion, stress, sleep and self-reported acceptability of the app.
RESULTS: At 4 weeks (primary endpoint), participants in the intervention group experienced significantly higher mental well-being (mean difference: 2.53 (95%CI: 0.53, 4.52); p = 0.013) and significantly lower depression (-4.23 (-8.32, -0.15); p = 0.042), compared to controls. Emotional well-being was greater in the intervention group at 3 months (12.23 (3.93, 20.54; p = 0.004). Other outcomes were similar between groups. User feedback was positive, with 88% saying they would recommend the app to a friend.
CONCLUSIONS: Whitu is an acceptable, effective, scalable and multi-modal means of improving some aspects of well-being and mental health among university students.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Network Registry: ACTRN12622000053729.
PMID:39982756 | DOI:10.1080/09638237.2025.2460123
