Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effects of the COPE Online Cognitive‐Behavioral Skill‐Building Program on Mental Health Outcomes and Academic Performance in Freshmen College Students: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Issue 3 (13th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Melnyk, Bernadette Mazurek; Amaya, Megan; Szalacha, Laura A.; Hoying, Jacqueline; Taylor, Tiffany; Bowersox, Kristen
• Is Part Of: Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing. Volume 28:Issue 3(2015)
• Page Start: 147
• Page End: 154
• Publication Date: 2015-08-13
• Subjects: Child psychiatric nursing -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychiatric nursing -- Periodicals; Child mental health -- Periodicals; Teenagers -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Child mental health -- United States -- Periodicals; Teenagers -- Mental health -- United States -- Periodicals; 618.92890231
• DOI: 10.1111/jcap.12119
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1073-6077

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jcap12119-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Problem</title> <p>Despite the increasing prevalence of mental health disorders in university students, few receive needed evidence‐based treatment.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcap12119-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and preliminary effects of a seven‐session online cognitive‐behavioral skill‐building intervention (i.e., COPE, Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment) versus a comparison group on their anxiety, depressive symptoms, and grade performance.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcap12119-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A randomized controlled pilot study was conducted from September 2012 to May 2013 with 121 college freshmen enrolled in a required one credit survey course.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcap12119-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Findings</title> <p>Although there were no significant differences in anxiety and depressive symptoms between the groups, only COPE students with an elevated level of anxiety at baseline had a significant decline in symptoms. Grade point average was higher in COPE versus comparison students. Evaluations indicated that COPE was a positive experience for students.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcap12119-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>COPE is a promising brief intervention that can be integrated effectively into a required freshman course.</p> </sec> </abstract>