This "SeApp" study aims to test a self-efficacy Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) in healthy students in the context of COVID-19. EMIs are mostly smartphone-based applications that deliver interventions to people while being engaged in their daily life activities. The app harnesses the power of self-efficacy autobiographical memories (e.g. problem-solving memories, memories of success). Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) are also incorporated into the study to capture individuals' feelings, affect, and behavior in real time. Clarification added \[September 2025\]: The record previously showed an incorrect estimated enrollment due to a data entry error. The planned enrollment for this trial was 93, consistent with comparable prior studies, and enrollment was closed when 93 participants had been enrolled.
This "SeApp" study aims to test a self-efficacy Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) in healthy students in the context of COVID-19. EMIs are mostly smartphone-based applications that deliver interventions to people while being engaged in their daily life activities. The app harnesses the power of self-efficacy autobiographical memories (e.g. problem-solving memories, memories of success). Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) are also incorporated into the study to capture individuals' feelings, affect, and behavior in real time. Developed by psychologist Dr. Albert Bandura in 1977, the concept of self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability to perform the necessary actions to manage particular situations. Bandura's theory highlights four major components of self-efficacy, including mastery experiences, socialmodeling, social persuasion, and psychological responses. The app tested here focuses on mastery experiences, which are what individuals gain when they take on a challenge and succeed. The app prompts participants in the daily recall of self-efficacy memories. The project aims to test its feasibility and to investigate how daily self-efficacy and motivation can be enhanced and perceived stress and depression reduced by daily memory-based training via smartphone app.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
93
Participants receive 3 self-efficacy trainings per day, combined with Ecological Momentary Assessments assessing mood, social contacts, and virtual context 3x/day for one week
Participants receive Ecological Momentary Assessments assessing mood, social contacts, and virtual context 3x/day for one week only
The New School
New York, New York, United States
General Self-Efficacy
change in general self-efficacy meeasured using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE, 10 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale with higher scores indicating greater levels of self-efficacy; min=10, max=40)
Time frame: after app completion and 1 month after app completion
Perceived Stress
change in perceived stress measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; 10 items rated on a 0-4 scale with higher scores indicating greater levels of perceived stress; min=0, max=40)
Time frame: after app completion and 1 month after app completion
Intolerance of Uncertainty
change in intolerance of uncertainty measured using the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS; 12 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale with higher scores indicating greater intolerance of uncertainty; min=12, max=60)
Time frame: after app completion and 1 month after app completion
State and Trait Anxiety
change in state and trait anxiety measured using the The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; 40 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale with a commonly used cutoff score of 40 indicating probable clinical levels of anxiety; min=20, max=80 on the subscales)
Time frame: after app completion and 1 month after app completion
Positive and Negative Affect positive and negative affect
change in positive and negative affect measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS; 20 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale with 10 items measuring positive affect and 10 items measuring and higher scores indicating greater levels of positive or negative affect; min=10, max=50 on the subscales)
Time frame: after app completion and 1 month after app completion
Hopelessness
change in hopelessness measured using the BHS
Time frame: after app completion and 1 month after app completion
Depression
change in depression measured using the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BDI-II; 20 true and false items with higher scores indicating greater levels of hopelessness)
Time frame: after app completion and 1 month after app completion
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