(PS5-29) Preliminary Support for the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Credibility of Two Life Hacks Workshops for College Students

Abstract Text: Research indicates that college students experience elevated rates of depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, many students have limited access to mental health care due to the high cost and scarcity of services. The treatment gap refers to the discrepancy between those who could benefit from services and those who receive them. Three possible solutions for addressing the treatment gap in college students include targeting subclinical anxiety and depression to prevent worsening, single-session interventions (SSIs), and task-shifting. The aim of the Life Hacks Project is to take three evidence-based interventions for depression and anxiety (behavioral activation (BA), problem solving (PS), and exposure) and streamline them into SSIs to be delivered to college students using task-shifting. This in-progress pilot study explores the feasibility, acceptability, and credibility (FAC) of single-session versions of BA and PS designed to be delivered by college-student leaders (e.g., peer educators or residence assistants). Participants (current N=135) consisted of students in an Introductory Psychology course who received course credit for their participation and non-Intro Psych students who were each offered the incentive of a $15 gift card. The 90-minute BA and PS workshops were delivered to small groups of 5-10 participants (total workshops run = 15). Two research assistants served as peer leaders for each session and led the group through a series of discussions, activities, and worksheets designed to teach BA and PS skills. At the end of each workshop, participants provided quantitative and qualitative feedback through an anonymous Qualtrics survey. Quantitative questions were drawn from existing FAC measures (e.g., User Experience Questionnaire, Program Feedback Scale). Comparing BA and PS workshop results to successful SSIs in the literature indicated that participants found our BA and PS workshops as enjoyable, understandable, easy to use, attractive, stimulating, and perspicuous as previous successful SSIs. Results also showed that participants considered our BA and PS workshops to be suitable for their problems. Preliminary data support the FAC of the BA and PS workshops. Future directions include a) replicating this study with the Exposure workshop and b) collecting preliminary efficacy data relative to a control condition.