Online self-help programs to reduce psychological distress in mexican college students

ABSTRACT

Introduction: University students are a key group in society, in terms of human capital and social development. They constitute a risk group in the development of anxiety due to their psychological, social,andacademicdemands,thereforeitisnecessary to propose intervention alternatives in this population. Objective: To test the effectiveness of online self-help programs on psychological discomfort in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a secondary objective;to associate difficulties and physical situation with emotional problems. Methods: Undergraduate and postgraduate students participated in a 6-month prospective, two-measure longitudinal cohort study from a private university. In Wave I, the participants was n = 641 (evaluated on May 2020) and in Wave II n = 304 (evaluated on November 2020). A school survey composed of 5 subscales with α = 0.91 was used. Results: Begin a woman, older age and postgraduate students had a greater risk of persistence of psychological distress in comparison with all of their peers (RRs ranging from 1.89 to 2.19). In contrast, those students who received self-help strategy and/ or healthcare professional showed a lower risk for persistence of psychological distress (RR 0.31-0.87). Conclusions: The interventions online and the implementation of a protocol that includes the work of a health professional seem to improve psychological well-being and decrease depression and anxiety problems in university students. Also, avenues will be opened for new research on the effectiveness of these interventions focused on the prevention and promotion of mental health. © Universidad De La Salle Bajío (México).