A study in South Korea assessed the effectiveness of the "MINDLiNG" digital mental healthcare program, targeting maladaptive personality traits, and found significant improvements in reducing stress, perfectionism, loneliness, and anxiety, while increasing self-esteem among participants. The study highlights the potential of digital solutions to address the high demand for mental healthcare services in South Korea.
This study conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital intervention program called "MINDLiNG" designed to target maladaptive personality traits, with four subprograms addressing perfectionism, low self-esteem, social isolation, and anxiety. Participants were assigned to one of these programs, and primary outcome measures varied accordingly, including the Perceived Stress Scale, Hewitt Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, State Self-Esteem Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Beck Anxiety Inventory. The study anticipated treatment effects in both primary and secondary outcome measures for the treatment group compared to the waitlist group after 5 and 10 weeks of intervention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
300
The intervention was delivered on an online platform set up separately for the study, which was accessible via the web browser and application. The psychological intervention program for maladaptive personality traits (Mindling) is based on the principles of CBT, psychological schema therapy, acceptance-commitment therapy, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and is aimed primarily at adults to prevent and overcome psychological difficulties
Seoul National University Hospital
Seoul, South Korea
Perceived Stress Scale
The primary outcome measure for the entirety of the MINDLiNG program. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is a 10-item scale that can range from 0 to 40, which measures the perceived stress on a 5-point severity with higher scores indicating more severe perceived stress.
Time frame: The treatment group was assessed at Weeks 0, 5, 10, and 14, and the waitlist group at Weeks 0, 5, and 10
Hewitt Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale
Perfectionism, the primary outcome of the Riggy program, was measured using the Hewitt Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (HMPS). The HMPS is a 45-item measure with three trait subscales measuring self-oriented perfectionism, other-oriented perfectionism, and socially prescribed perfectionism. It ranges from 45 to 315. Higher level means higher level of perfectionism.
Time frame: The Riggy treatment group was assessed at Weeks 0, 5, 10, and 14, and the waitlist group at Weeks 0, 5, and 10
State Self-Esteem Scale
State self-esteem, the primary outcome of the Pleaser program, was measured using the Sate Self-Esteem Scale (SSES) SSES is a 20-item scale on a 5-point likert scale ranging from 20 to 100, assessing 3 facets of self-esteem: appearance, performance, and social. Higher score means higher level of self-esteem.
Time frame: The Pleaser treatment group was assessed at Weeks 0, 5, 10, and 14, and the waitlist group at Weeks 0, 5, and 10
UCLA Loneliness Scale
Loneliness, the primary outcome of the Shelly program, was measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS). UCLA-LS is a 20-item scale to measure subjective feelings of loneliness as well as feelings of social isolation on a 4-point likert scale ranging from 20 to 80. Higher score means higher level of loneliness.
Time frame: The Shelly treatment group was assessed at Weeks 0, 5, 10, and 14, and the waitlist group at Weeks 0, 5, and 10
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
The primary measure of the Jumpy program was the BAI. A 21-item self-inventory on a 4-point likert scale ranging from 0 to 63, measuring common somatic and cognitive symptoms of anxiety. Higher score means higher level of anxiety
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Time frame: The Jumpy treatment group was assessed at Weeks 0, 5, 10, and 14, and the waitlist group at Weeks 0, 5, and 10
Self-Efficacy Stress (SES)
A measure for entirety of the MINDLiNG program. The SES is a 23-item scale that assesses the individuals self-efficacy on a 5-point likert scale ranging from 23 to 115. Higher scores indicate higher level of self-efficacy.
Time frame: The treatment group was assessed at Weeks 0, 5, 10, and 14, and the waitlist group at Weeks 0, 5, and 10
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
A measure for entirety of the MINDLiNG program. The CES-D is a 20-item questionnaire that measures depressive symptoms on a 4-point likert scale ranging from 0 to 60. Higher score means higher level of depression.
Time frame: The treatment group was assessed at Weeks 0, 5, 10, and 14, and the waitlist group at Weeks 0, 5, and 10
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) trait
A measure for entirety of the MINDLiNG program. The STAI trait is a 20-item inventory that measures trait anxiety on a 4-point likert scale ranging from 20 to 80. Higher score means higher anxiety.
Time frame: The treatment group was assessed at Weeks 0, 5, 10, and 14, and the waitlist group at Weeks 0, 5, and 10