Enabling Positive Transition to University: Evaluating an App-Based Positive Psychology Intervention with UK First Year Undergraduate Students
Roger Bretherton, Frances J. Longstaff , Joanne E. P. Askew and Zoe I. Yovcheva-Dimov
Citation: Bretherton, R., Longstaff, F. J., Askew, J. E. P., & Yovcheva-Dimov, Z. I. (2022). Enabling Positive Transition to University: Evaluating an App-Based Positive Psychology Intervention with UK First Year Undergraduate Students. European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 6, 6,1-16. https://www.nationalwellbeingservice.org/volumes/volume-6-2022/volume-6-article-6/
Processing dates: Submitted 14 July 2021; Resubmitted 25 January 2022; Accepted 28 January 2022; Published 16 September 2022
Abstract
Background: Starting university is a key life transition, and a potential source of psychological distress in first year university students. Those who manage the university transition effectively report high levels of optimism, hope, self-efficacy, emotional intelligence and self-regulation.
Methodology: This study evaluated the effect of an app-based multi-component positive psychology intervention (MPPI) delivered to undergraduates within the first semester of university. Ninety-two first year university students were randomly allocated to an app-based MPPI (n = 46) or an active control journaling condition (n = 46) for six weeks.
Results: The MPPI condition reported significant increases in life satisfaction after three and six weeks of the intervention; plus, significant increases in positive affect and self-efficacy, and decreases in negative affect after six weeks.
Discussion: The effect of exercise dosage and follow-up period is reviewed. The differential effects of the varied psychological intervention are considered in the light of the Synergistic Change Model.
Conclusions: App-based MPPIs are presented as a scalable cost-effective approach to supporting student transition to university.
Keywords: positive psychology; app-based interventions; student wellbeing; mental health promotion; self-efficacy; subjective wellbeing
Biographies
Dr. Roger Bretherton is with the School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN5 7AY, UK
Email: rbretherton@lincoln.ac.uk
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9715-2622
Frances J. Longstaff is with the Department of Psychology, University of Hertfordshire, UK, and with Fika Community Ltd, UK
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9557-4098
Joanne E. P. Askew is with the Department of Psychology, University of Hertfordshire, UK
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4187-4233
Zoe I. Yovcheva-Dimov is with Fika Community Ltd, UK
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3866-5879