Citation

Mazurek Melnyk B, Hoying J, Tan A. J. Am. Coll. Health 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2020.1782922

PMID

32672515

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of the MINDSTRONG© cognitive-behavioral skills building program versus an attention control program on mental health outcomes and lifestyle behaviors of graduate health professional students.

Participants: 201 entering graduate students from seven health sciences colleges at a public land grant University in the U.S. Midwest.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with three-month follow-up. Valid and reliable instruments measured depression, anxiety, stress, healthy lifestyle beliefs and healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Results: Students receiving MINDSTRONG© reported less depression/anxiety and healthier lifestyle behaviors than those receiving the control program. Students with elevated levels of depression/anxiety at baseline demonstrated greater benefits from the program.

Conclusions: MINDSTRONG© can be used as a preventive and early intervention for improving mental health outcomes and lifestyle behaviors in graduate students. Because the program can be delivered by trained non-mental health professionals, it has the potential to be widely scaled on campuses throughout the U.S.

Language: en

Keywords

Depression; anxiety; college students; cognitive-behavior therapy; lifestyle behaviors