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METHODS article
Front. Psychol.
Sec. Positive Psychology
Volume 15 - 2024 |
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1397870
This article is part of the Research Topic The Impact of Psychological Well-Being on University Students View all 26 articles
Utilizing Digital Technologies to Promote Well-being in University Students: The 'Digi-Well' Research Protocol
Provisionally accepted- 1 University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
- 2 Pegaso University, Naples, Campania, Italy
- 3 University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
- 4 Azienda USL - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the well-being of university students, particularly those in healthcare and medical programs. Psychological interventions rooted in positive psychology have proven effective in enhancing mental health, with online and digital delivery methods proving to be equally viable. This study aims to enhance mental health among Italian university students through digital interventions, including virtual reality, utilizing a stepped care approach. Specific objectives include implementing online positive interventions for students experiencing mild distress (DigiWell_Step 1), evaluating a Virtual-Reality intervention for moderate distress (DigiWell_Step 2), and identifying students experiencing high distress or optimal well-being. Cluster analyses and linear models will assess intervention outcomes. It is anticipated that students undergoing these steps will experience significant improvements in well-being and distress reduction, with sustained benefits at a three-month follow-up. This research contributes to understanding the efficacy of mental health interventions for university students, leveraging digital technologies to enhance accessibility and user engagement. The integration of digital technologies enhances the cost-effectiveness and engagement of interventions delivered through a stepped care approach tailored to the targeted population.
Keywords: university students, Mental Health, Well-being, Positive Psychology, virtual reality, Positive interventions
Received: 08 Mar 2024; Accepted: 14 Aug 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 Ruini, Vescovelli, Cesarano, De Angelis, De Marco, Galeazzi, Li Pira, Pingani and Limone. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Luca Pingani, Azienda USL - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
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Valentina P. Cesarano
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