Trial reportJMIR formative research2024
Digital Interventions for Reducing Loneliness and Depression in Korean College Students: Mixed Methods Evaluation.
Trial report in JMIR formative research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Therapeutic Interaction Features of AI Chatbots in Depression Interventions: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Pooled it
- The Effects of Open-World and Fun, Accessible Games on Perceived Loneliness and Stoicism in Adults: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.JMIR serious games · 2026Article
- Evidence for Mental Health Promotion and Prevention in Korea: A Narrative Review.Psychiatry investigation · 2026Article
- Understanding loneliness and depression in psychiatry professionals: insights from a national survey of trainees and practitioners.BMC psychology · 2025Article
- Development and Evaluation of a Mental Health Chatbot Using ChatGPT 4.0: Mixed Methods User Experience Study With Korean Users.JMIR medical informatics · 2025Article
- Development and evaluation of LLM-based suicide intervention chatbot.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the prevalence of loneliness and depression among college students. Digital interventions, such as Woebot (Woebot Health, Inc) and Happify (Twill Inc), have shown promise in alleviating these symptoms.
objectiveThis study aims to investigate the effectiveness and acceptability of Woebot and Happify in reducing loneliness and depression among college students after the COVID-19 pandemic.
methodsA mixed methods approach was used over 4 months. A total of 63 participants aged 18 to 27 years from Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea, were initially recruited, with an inclusion criterion of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale score ≥34. The final sample consisted of 27 participants due to attrition. Participants were randomly assigned to Woebot (15/27, 55%); Happify (9/27, 33%); or a control group using Bondee (Metadream), a metaverse social network messenger app (3/27, 11%). Quantitative measures (UCLA Loneliness Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and qualitative assessments (user feedback and focused interviews) were used.
resultsAlthough mean decreases in loneliness and depression were observed in the control and intervention groups after the intervention, the differences between the control and intervention groups were not statistically significant (UCLA Loneliness: P=.67; Patient Health Questionnaire-9: P=.35). Qualitative data indicated user satisfaction, with suggestions for improved app effectiveness and personalization.
conclusionsDespite limitations, this study highlights the potential of well-designed digital interventions in alleviating college students' loneliness and depression. The findings contribute to the growing body of research on accessible digital mental health tools and underscore the importance of comprehensive support systems. Further research with larger and more diverse samples is needed to better understand the effectiveness and optimization of such interventions.
trial registrationClinical Research Information Service KCT0009449; https://bit.ly/4d2e4Bu.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.