Digital Interventions for Reducing Loneliness and Depression in Korean College Students: Mixed Methods Evaluation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the prevalence of loneliness and depression among college students. Digital interventions, such as Woebot (Woebot Health, Inc) and Happify (Twill Inc), have shown promise in alleviating these symptoms.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness and acceptability of Woebot and Happify in reducing loneliness and depression among college students after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A mixed methods approach was used over 4 months. A total of 63 participants aged 18 to 27 years from Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea, were initially recruited, with an inclusion criterion of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale score ≥34. The final sample consisted of 27 participants due to

SUBMITTER: Kang B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11427852 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature