Positive Psychology - Based EMl for Enhancing Well-Being

NCT07406880 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: HSEARS20231201008-03
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 354
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a positive psychology-based ecological momentary intervention (EMI) for enhancing well-being in college students. A three-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) will assess the impact of a dynamic EMI that delivers personalized exercises when participants' real-time affect or well-being scores fall below a predefined threshold, compared to control conditions. Primary outcomes include changes in well-being and mental health, evaluated through a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative measures and qualitative interviews.

Conditions

Healthy Participants Study

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Affect

  The 20-item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form (PANAS-SF) will be used to measure affective states. This scale comprises two subscales: Positive Affect (10 items) and Negative Affect (10 items). Each item is rated on a 5-point scale from 1 (very slightly or not at all) to 5 (extremely). Higher scores on each subscale indicate higher levels of the respective affect.

  Baseline (pre-intervention); Immediately after the intervention (2 week after baseline)); 1-month follow-up (1 month after intervention)

• Happiness

  The 4-item Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) will be utilized to assess participants' subjective happiness. Each item will be rated on a 7-point Likert scale. Elevated scores on the scale indicate a greater level of subjective happiness.

  Baseline (pre-intervention); Immediately after the intervention (2 weeks after baseline); 1-month follow-up (1 month after intervention)

• Flourishing

  The 8-item Flourishing Scale (FS) will be used to measure psychological well-being and self-perceived success in important areas such as relationships, self-esteem, and purpose. Each item is rated on a 7-point scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), with higher scores indicating a greater level of psychological well-being.

  Baseline (pre-intervention); Immediately after the intervention (2 weeks after baseline); 1-month follow-up (1 month after intervention)

• Satisfaction with Life

  Satisfaction with life is measured by the 5-item Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). All items are rated on a 7-point scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), with higher scores indicating higher satisfaction with life.

  Baseline (pre-intervention); Immediately after the intervention (2 weeks after baseline); 1-month follow-up (1 month after intervention)

• Psychological distress

  The 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) will be used to measure the negative emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress. Each subscale contains 7 items, rated on a 4-point severity scale from 0 (did not apply to me at all) to 3 (applied to me very much, or most of the time). Higher scores indicate more severe levels of depression, anxiety, or stress.

  Baseline (pre-intervention); Immediately after the intervention (2 weeks after baseline); 1-month follow-up (1 month after intervention

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• State Subjective Happiness

  During the 14-day intervention period, this measurement is conducted twice per day as part of the momentary assessments, and once each evening as part of the Daily Diary assessment at 9:00 PM.

• State affect

  During the 14-day intervention period, this measurement is conducted twice per day as part of the momentary assessments, and once each evening as part of the Daily Diary assessment at 9:00 PM.

• State Well-Being

  During the 14-day intervention period, this measure is also administered each evening at 9:00 PM as part of the Daily Diary assessment.

• State Anxiety and Depression

  During the 14-day intervention period, this measure is also administered each evening at 9:00 PM as part of the Daily Diary assessment.

• State Stress

  During the 14-day intervention period, this measure is also administered each evening at 9:00 PM as part of the Daily Diary assessment.

Other Outcomes (1)

• Socio-demographic variables

  Baseline (pre-intervention)

Study Arms (3)

EMI Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will use the app which delivers EMI exercises adaptively. Twice daily, the app assesses their momentary affect and well-being. If scores fall below a preset threshold, a corresponding intervention exercise (e.g., gratitude, mindfulness) is automatically triggered. They also complete a daily evening assessment. The intervention lasts 14 days.

Behavioral: Ecological Momentary Intervention

Active Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group will use the app to complete a fixed set of six EMI exercises twice daily, regardless of their current emotional state. This controls for the general effect of receiving the intervention content and frequency. They also complete the same daily evening assessment as the other groups. The phase lasts 14 days.

Behavioral: Active Control

No-Intervention Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group will use the app only for assessment purposes. They complete the same twice-daily momentary assessments and the daily evening assessment as the other groups, but do not receive any intervention exercises. This controls for the effects of repeated self-monitoring. The phase lasts 14 days.

Interventions

Ecological Momentary Intervention BEHAVIORAL

This is a smartphone-based ecological momentary intervention (EMI) that delivers psychological exercises (e.g., gratitude, mindfulness) in an adaptive, "as-needed" manner. Twice daily, the app algorithm assesses a participant's self-reported momentary affect and well-being. If the scores fall below a preset, moderate threshold, a corresponding intervention exercise is automatically triggered. The goal is to provide personalized support at moments of greatest need.

EMI Group

Active Control BEHAVIORAL

This is a smartphone-based ecological momentary intervention (EMI) that delivers the same suite of psychological exercises on a fixed schedule, regardless of the user's current state. Participants are prompted to complete all six available exercises twice daily. This intervention controls for the general effects of exposure to the exercise content and engagement with the app, allowing for a comparison with the adaptive, algorithm-guided EMI.

Active Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Participants in our study are healthy college students.
• Have smartphone, and have access to the internet.

You may not qualify if:

• Unable to use a smartphone.
• Have significant cognitive impairment that prevents participation in the research

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Kowloon, Hong Kong

Location

Central Study Contacts

Tao ZHANG

CONTACT

+852 9423 3827; tao-t.zhang@connect.polyu.hk

Bryant HUI

CONTACT

+852 2766 7744; phhui@polyu.edu.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This three-arm randomized controlled trial evaluates a 14-day Positive Psychology- based Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI). All participants complete twice-daily assessments of emotions and activities, as well as a Daily Diary at 9:00 PM each day. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1. EMI Group: Receives algorithm triggered positive psychology exercises (e.g., gratitude, mindfulness) when their real-time emotional states fall below a predefined threshold. 2. Active Control Group: Completes the same set of exercises on a fixed schedule, regardless of momentary emotional state. 3. No-Intervention Control Group: Completes all assessments but receives no intervention exercises.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 6, 2026
• First Posted: February 12, 2026
• Study Start: February 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2026
• Last Updated: February 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-10

Locations

HK (1)