Effectiveness of a guided internet-based intervention in reducing procrastination among university students – a randomized controlled trial

IF 4.1 2区医学 Q1 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES

Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health Pub Date : 2025-09-29 DOI:10.1016/j.invent.2025.100878

Arpana Amarnath , Sevin Ozmen , Chris van Klaveren , Annemieke van Straten , Julia Pei , Leonore de Wit , Rasmus E. Raabe , Caring Universities Consortium , Pim Cuijpers , Sascha Y. Struijs

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Procrastination is highly prevalent among students and has several negative consequences, affecting academic performance, mental health, and prospects for future professional development. However, there exists a treatment gap, with there being many more students with problems than those receiving help. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a guided internet-based intervention, GetStarted, in addressing procrastination among college students. In this two-arm randomized controlled trial, 403 students were randomly assigned to GetStarted or waitlist control. The primary outcome was the difference in self-reported procrastination behaviours between intervention and control measured on the Irrational Procrastination scale (IPS) at post-test (4 weeks post-baseline). In addition, long-term effects based on the difference in the IPS scores from baseline to 6-months follow-up were assessed in the intervention group. Secondary outcomes were differences in depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and mental health-related quality of life. All analyses were based on the intent to treat principle. The Random Forest Lee bounds approach was applied as a sensitivity and robustness analysis. The sociodemographic characteristics of the participants were examined as treatment moderators. Finally, treatment acceptability was assessed through satisfaction with treatment, program usability, satisfaction with e-coach, and treatment adherence. Our results revealed that GetStarted was significantly effective in reducing procrastination at the post-test (Cohen's d = 0.40), and this effect remained stable at 6-month follow-up (p < .001). The intervention group also experienced reductions in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress, along with an increase in quality of life from baseline to post-test and 6-month follow-up, although these changes were not statistically significant apart from perceived stress. No significant moderators influenced treatment effectiveness. Overall, participants reported good acceptability of the treatment. GetStarted offers an effective, flexible, and low-intensity solution for treating procrastination, with the potential to prevent common mental health issues among college students.

Trial registration

This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System (Trial number: NCT05478096).

查看原文本刊更多论文

一项基于网络的引导干预在减少大学生拖延症中的有效性——一项随机对照试验

拖延症在学生中非常普遍，并有一些负面影响，影响学习成绩、心理健康和未来专业发展的前景。然而，存在着治疗差距，有问题的学生比得到帮助的学生多得多。本研究旨在评估一种基于互联网的指导性干预方法GetStarted在解决大学生拖延症方面的有效性。在这项两组随机对照试验中，403名学生被随机分配到“开始”组或候补组。主要结果是在测试后（基线后4周）用不合理拖延量表（IPS）测量干预组和对照组自我报告拖延行为的差异。此外，基于IPS评分从基线到6个月随访的差异，对干预组的长期影响进行了评估。次要结局是抑郁症状、焦虑、压力和精神健康相关生活质量的差异。所有的分析都是基于治疗意图原则。采用随机森林李氏界方法进行敏感性和稳健性分析。参与者的社会人口学特征作为治疗调节因素进行了检查。最后，通过治疗满意度、程序可用性、电子教练满意度和治疗依从性来评估治疗可接受性。我们的研究结果显示，在测试后，GetStarted在减少拖延症方面显著有效（Cohen’s d = 0.40），并且在6个月的随访中，这种效果保持稳定（p < .001）。干预组也经历了抑郁症状、焦虑和压力的减少，从基线到测试后和6个月随访的生活质量也有所提高，尽管这些变化除了感知到的压力外没有统计学意义。无显著调节因子影响治疗效果。总体而言，参与者报告了良好的治疗可接受性。GetStarted为治疗拖延症提供了一个有效、灵活、低强度的解决方案，有可能预防大学生中常见的心理健康问题。试验注册本试验在ClinicalTrials.gov方案注册和结果系统上注册（试验号：NCT05478096）。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Internet Interventions-The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health Medicine-Health Informatics

CiteScore

6.50

自引率

9.30%

发文量

审稿时长

6 weeks

期刊介绍： Official Journal of the European Society for Research on Internet Interventions (ESRII) and the International Society for Research on Internet Interventions (ISRII). The aim of Internet Interventions is to publish scientific, peer-reviewed, high-impact research on Internet interventions and related areas. Internet Interventions welcomes papers on the following subjects: • Intervention studies targeting the promotion of mental health and featuring the Internet and/or technologies using the Internet as an underlying technology, e.g. computers, smartphone devices, tablets, sensors • Implementation and dissemination of Internet interventions • Integration of Internet interventions into existing systems of care • Descriptions of development and deployment infrastructures • Internet intervention methodology and theory papers • Internet-based epidemiology • Descriptions of new Internet-based technologies and experiments with clinical applications • Economics of internet interventions (cost-effectiveness) • Health care policy and Internet interventions • The role of culture in Internet intervention • Internet psychometrics • Ethical issues pertaining to Internet interventions and measurements • Human-computer interaction and usability research with clinical implications • Systematic reviews and meta-analysis on Internet interventions