Effects of a digital self-efficacy training in stressed university students: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: Self-efficacy is associated with positive mental health outcomes. The authors developed and tested a digital self-efficacy training focused on daily recall of autobiographical mastery experiences. Method: In a randomized controlled trial, 93 university students (mean age 23.3 years, SD 3.49) with elevated perceived stress completed either a one-week self-efficacy training combined with ecological momentary assessment (EMA) or EMA-only as an active control. Outcomes were anxiety, stress, hopelessness, hope, positive and negative affect, and self-efficacy, assessed at baseline and one day post-intervention. Results: Compared to control, the training group showed significantly reduced hopelessness and trait anxiety at post-assessment. Effects on self-efficacy at post-assessment were significant when controlling for baseline self-efficacy. Conclusions: This stand-alone digital self-efficacy training was associated with reduced hopelessness and trait anxiety and increased self-efficacy (conditional on baseline levels). Replication and examination of long-term effects and clinical implementation are warranted.

Judith Rohde, Marta A. Marciniak, Mirka Henninger, Stephanie Homan, Anja Ries, Christina Paersch, Olivia Friedman, Adam D. Brown, Birgit Kleim