Testing Adapted Self-Help Plus (SH+) for Stress and Well-Being in International Students at a U.S. University

NCT07188467 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: SH2025-001
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if an adapted version of Self-Help Plus (SH+), a stress management program developed by the World Health Organization, can reduce stress and improve well-being in international students at a U.S. university. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does SH+ reduce perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in international students? Does SH+ improve feelings of social support, self-efficacy, and adjustment in a new cultural environment? Participants will: Attend a two-day in-person workshop that includes animated videos, interactive activities, and group discussions. Complete three surveys (before the workshop, right after, and six weeks later) about stress, mood, and well-being. Optionally, take part in a short interview to share feedback about their experience.

Conditions

Stress, Psychological; Depression and/or Anxiety in the Mild-to-moderate Range; Loneliness; Adjustment, Psychological

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)

  Self-reported perceived stress levels. Higher scores indicate greater perceived stress. Range: 0-40 Higher scores= worse outcome (greater perceived stress) Cutoffs: 0-13 low, 14-26 moderate, 27-40 high

  Change from baseline to 6-week follow-up

• Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

  Range: 0-27 Higher scores = worse outcome (greater depression severity). Cutoffs: 1-4 minimal, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-19 moderately severe, 20-27 severe.

  Change from baseline to 6-week follow-up

• General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)

  Range: 0-21 Higher scores = worse outcome (greater anxiety severity) Cutoffs: 0-4 minimal, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-21 severe

  Change from baseline to 6-week follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Self-Measure for Loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale)

  Change from baseline to 6-week follow-up

• Social Support (SSQ)

  Change from baseline to 6-week follow-up

• Self-Efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale)

  Change from baseline to 6-week follow-up

• Psychological Adjustment (BASE-6)

  Change from baseline to 6-week follow-up

Study Arms (1)

Self-Help Plus (SH+) Workshop

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will attend a two-day in-person workshop featuring digitized SH+ materials. The workshop includes animated videos, guided stress management exercises, and group discussions.

Behavioral: Digitized SH+

Interventions

Digitized SH+ BEHAVIORAL

Digitized SH+ is a group-based, stress management program (adapted from the original Self-Help Plus intervention developed by the World Health Organization), that utilizes animated videos and group discussions to teach participants skills such as Grounding, Unhooking (from difficult thoughts), Being Kind (to self and others), Identifying Values, and Making Room for Difficult Thoughts and Feelings.

Self-Help Plus (SH+) Workshop

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Enrolled as an international student at The New School
• Age 18 years or older
• Willing to provide informed consent and complete study assessments
• Score of ≥3 on the PHQ-4, indicating at least mild distress
• Sufficient English proficiency to comprehend intervention materials

You may not qualify if:

• Severe psychiatric conditions requiring immediate intervention (e.g., active psychosis, severe mood disorders)
• Visual, hearing, or neurocognitive impairments that prevent engagement with the intervention
• Having an advanced degree in psychology or mental health-related fields (to prevent prior knowledge bias)
• Score of 2 or higher on PHQ-4 Item 3 or Item 4 (frequent thoughts of self-harm or severe distress)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The New School: lead

Study Sites (1)

The New School

Brooklyn, New York, 10011, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Adam D Brown, PhD

  The New School, Center for Global Mental Health

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Josheka S Chauhan, MA

CONTACT

347-307-2179; chauj265@newschool.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 16, 2025
• First Posted: September 23, 2025
• Study Start: October 7, 2025
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2025
• Study Completion: January 1, 2026
• Last Updated: October 9, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)