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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07174544

Mobile Self-Management Program for Stress Reduction in Young Adults

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a mobile self-management program that combines Positive Psychology (PP) and Behavioral Activation (BA) helps reduce stress in young adults in South Korea. It will also examine how the program affects depression, anxiety, and resilience.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does the program lower stress levels in young adults with high stress?

Does the program improve other aspects of mental health, such as depression, anxiety, and resilience?

Researchers will compare the mobile program to a wait-list control group to see if the program works to improve stress management.

Participants will:

Be randomly assigned to either the program group or a wait-list control group

Use the mobile program for 4 weeks with guided activities, followed by 4 weeks of self-directed use

Complete surveys at the start, week 2, week 4, and week 8 about their stress, depression, anxiety, and resilience

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Key information

Conditions

Stress (Psychology)

Age range

19 year–34 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea

Seoul, 06591, South Korea

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 19-34 years at the time of participation
  • Proficiency in using digital devices
  • Use of an Android-based smartphone or tablet
  • Score of ≥14 on the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10)
  • Provision of informed consent for random assignment

Exclusion criteria

  • Score <14 on the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10)
  • Declines random assignment

Treatment and study plan

Mobile Self-Management Program integrated with Positive Psychology and Behavioral Activation

Behavioral

The mobile self-management program consisted of a 4-week guided intervention phase followed by a 4-week self-directed period to encourage continued use. The guided phase was organized around weekly objectives: (1) experiencing positive affect, (2) identifying personal strengths, (3) applying strengths in daily life, and (4) planning a positive future. Program activities included emotional check-ins, gratitude journaling, mindfulness practice, positive behavioral tasks, and goal setting. During the self-directed phase (Weeks 5-8), participants selected from 10 recommended activities tailored to their strengths, promoting sustained engagement and self-management. The program integrated Positive Psychology and Behavioral Activation strategies to reduce stress, enhance resilience, and foster positive behavioral change.

Primary outcomes

  1. Stress at Week 8

    Time frame: Week 8

    Stress was measured using the Korean version of the Perceived Stress Scale - 10 items (PSS-10). The total score ranges from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress. Although the scale does not provide a standardized cut-off, prior studies have used a score of 14 or higher to define moderate-to-high levels of stress, and this threshold was applied in the present study.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Stress at Baseline

    Time frame: Baseline

    Stress was measured using the Korean version of the Perceived Stress Scale - 10 items (PSS-10). The total score ranges from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress. Although the scale does not provide a standardized cut-off, prior studies have used a score of 14 or higher to define moderate-to-high levels of stress, and this threshold was applied in the present study.

  2. Stress at Week 2

    Time frame: Week 2

    Stress was measured using the Korean version of the Perceived Stress Scale - 10 items (PSS-10). The total score ranges from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress. Although the scale does not provide a standardized cut-off, prior studies have used a score of 14 or higher to define moderate-to-high levels of stress, and this threshold was applied in the present study.

  3. Stress at Week 4

    Time frame: Week 4

    Stress was measured using the Korean version of the Perceived Stress Scale - 10 items (PSS-10). The total score ranges from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress. Although the scale does not provide a standardized cut-off, prior studies have used a score of 14 or higher to define moderate-to-high levels of stress, and this threshold was applied in the present study.

  4. Depression (PHQ-9) at Baseline

    Time frame: Baseline

    Depression was assessed using the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 consists of nine items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day), assessing symptom frequency over the past two weeks. The total score ranges from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe depression.

  5. Depression (PHQ-9) at Week 2

    Time frame: Week 2

    Depression was assessed using the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 consists of nine items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day), assessing symptom frequency over the past two weeks. The total score ranges from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe depression.

  6. Depression (PHQ-9) at Week 4

    Time frame: Week 4

    Depression was assessed using the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 consists of nine items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day), assessing symptom frequency over the past two weeks. The total score ranges from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe depression.

  7. Depression (PHQ-9) at Week 8

    Time frame: Week 8

    Depression was assessed using the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 consists of nine items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day), assessing symptom frequency over the past two weeks. The total score ranges from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe depression.

  8. Anxiety (GAD-7) at Baseline

    Time frame: Baseline

    Anxiety was measured using the Korean version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 items (GAD-7). The GAD-7 consists of seven items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day), assessing symptom frequency over the past two weeks. The total score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety.

  9. Anxiety (GAD-7) at Week 2

    Time frame: Week 2

    Anxiety was measured using the Korean version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 items (GAD-7). The GAD-7 consists of seven items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day), assessing symptom frequency over the past two weeks. The total score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety.

  10. Anxiety (GAD-7) at Week 4

    Time frame: Week 4

    Anxiety was measured using the Korean version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 items (GAD-7). The GAD-7 consists of seven items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day), assessing symptom frequency over the past two weeks. The total score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety.

  11. Anxiety (GAD-7) at Week 8

    Time frame: Week 8

    Anxiety was measured using the Korean version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 items (GAD-7). The GAD-7 consists of seven items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day), assessing symptom frequency over the past two weeks. The total score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety.

  12. Resilience ( BRS) at Baseline

    Time frame: Baseline

    Resilience was assessed using the Korean version of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). The BRS consists of six items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). Total scores range from 6 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater resilience.

  13. Resilience (BRS) at Week 2

    Time frame: Week 2

    Resilience was assessed using the Korean version of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). The BRS consists of six items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). Total scores range from 6 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater resilience.

  14. Resilience (BRS) at Week 4

    Time frame: Week 4

    Resilience was assessed using the Korean version of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). The BRS consists of six items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). Total scores range from 6 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater resilience.

  15. Resilience (BRS) at Week 8

    Time frame: Week 8

    Resilience was assessed using the Korean version of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). The BRS consists of six items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). Total scores range from 6 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater resilience.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The Catholic University of Korea

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Mobile Self-Management Program Integrating Positive Psychology and Behavioral Activation for Stress Reduction in Young Adults: A Community-Based Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Sep 16, 2025
Registry last updated
Jan 8, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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