NCT07466004

Brief Summary

University students face increasing academic and psychosocial demands that place them at risk of reduced psychological well-being. Positive psychology interventions have demonstrated efficacy in promoting mental health; however, few are grounded explicitly in Seligman's PERMA model and adherence to digital interventions remains limited. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a brief PERMA-based psychological intervention delivered via a smartphone application, with and without supplementary telephone multiconference support, compared to a waiting list control group. The intervention consists of five weekly modules targeting Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and at six-month follow-up.

Trial Health

65
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
177

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
37mo left

Started Sep 2026

Typical duration for not_applicable

Status
not yet recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 27, 2026

Completed
13 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

March 12, 2026

Completed
6 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 1, 2026

Expected
3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

August 31, 2029

Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 31, 2029

Last Updated

March 12, 2026

Status Verified

January 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

3 years

First QC Date

February 27, 2026

Last Update Submit

March 6, 2026

Conditions

Psychological Well BeingMental Health Promotion

Keywords

PERMA modelUniversity studentsMobile interventionRandomized controlled trial

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Change from baseline emotional well-being to post-intervention (5 weeks) and 6-month follow-up

    One of the primary outcomes of the study will be emotional well-being. This construct will be evaluated using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS; Tennant et al., 2007).

    Pre- and post -intervention (5 weeks) and 6-month follow-up

  • Change from baseline well-being to post-intervention (5 weeks) and 6-month follow-up

    One of the primary outcomes of this study will be well-being (which comprises three elements, emotional, psychological and social well-being)l. This constructs will be evaluated using the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF; Keyes, 2002).

    Pre- and post -intervention (5 weeks) and 6-month follow-up.

Study Arms (3)

App-based PERMA intervention (PPIA)

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral intervention delivered via smartphone app. Five weekly modules corresponding to the PERMA domains.

Behavioral: App Based PERMA intervention

App-based PERMA intervention plus telephone multiconference (PPIA+M)

EXPERIMENTAL

Same app-based intervention supplemented by weekly 30-minute group telephone multiconference sessions.

Behavioral: App Based PERMA intervention plus telephone multiconference

Waiting List Control Group (WLCG)

NO INTERVENTION

Participants receive no intervention during the study period and are granted access after completion.

Interventions

App Based PERMA interventionBEHAVIORAL

The PPIA intervention is a structured psychological program grounded in the PERMA model of well-being (Seligman, 2011). This model proposes that long-term flourishing depends on developing five pillars: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. The intervention is further supported by the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions (Fredrickson, 2001), flow theory (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990), research on character strengths and positive relationships (Peterson \& Seligman, 2004; Reis \& Gable, 2003), meaning in life (Steger, 2009), the goal-setting theory (Locke \& Latham, 2002) and growth mindset principles (Dweck, 2006).

App-based PERMA intervention (PPIA)
App Based PERMA intervention plus telephone multiconferenceBEHAVIORAL

The PPIA intervention is a structured psychological program grounded in the PERMA model of well-being (Seligman, 2011). This model proposes that long-term flourishing depends on developing five pillars: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. The intervention is further supported by the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions (Fredrickson, 2001), flow theory (Csikszentmihalyi,1990), research on character strengths and positive relationships (Peterson \& Seligman, 2004; Reis \& Gable, 2003), meaning in life (Steger, 2009), the goalsetting theory (Locke \& Latham, 2002) and growth mindset principles (Dweck, 2006). Additionally, the multiconference component will consist of weekly 30-minute telephone-based multiconference sessions. During these sessions, positive or corrective feedback will be delivered in accordance with Miltenberger's guidelines (Miltenberger, 2012) after reviewing the completed homework.

App-based PERMA intervention plus telephone multiconference (PPIA+M)

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Being an actively enrolled university student at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC)
  • Having access to a smartphone with an internet connection.

You may not qualify if:

  • Having a current diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with psychotic features, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe cognitive impairment, dissociative disorders, or active substance dependence
  • Having started psychological or psychopharmacological treatment within the two months prior to the study or participating in another mental health-related study
  • Having insufficient proficiency in Spanish, or presenting sensory, cognitive, or physical impairments that would prevent engagement with the intervention
  • Planning to move out of Galicia within the next 12 months.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Related Publications (11)

  • Miltenberger, R. G. (2012). Behavior Modification: Principles and Procedures (5th ed). Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

    BACKGROUND

  • Fredrickson BL. The role of positive emotions in positive psychology. The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Am Psychol. 2001 Mar;56(3):218-26. doi: 10.1037//0003-066x.56.3.218.

    PMID: 11315248BACKGROUND

  • Locke EA, Latham GP. Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation. A 35-year odyssey. Am Psychol. 2002 Sep;57(9):705-17. doi: 10.1037//0003-066x.57.9.705.

    PMID: 12237980BACKGROUND

  • Tennant R, Hiller L, Fishwick R, Platt S, Joseph S, Weich S, Parkinson J, Secker J, Stewart-Brown S. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS): development and UK validation. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2007 Nov 27;5:63. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-5-63.

    PMID: 18042300BACKGROUND

  • Keyes CL. The mental health continuum: from languishing to flourishing in life. J Health Soc Behav. 2002 Jun;43(2):207-22.

    PMID: 12096700BACKGROUND

  • Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random house.

    BACKGROUND

  • Steger, M. F. (2009). Meaning in life. In S. J. Lopez & C. R. Snyder (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of positive psychology (2nd ed., pp. 679-687). Oxford University Press.

    BACKGROUND

  • Reis, H. T., & Gable, S. L. (2003). Toward a positive psychology of relationships. In C. R. Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology (pp. 129-159). Oxford University Press.

    BACKGROUND

  • Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. Oxford University Press.

    BACKGROUND

  • Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper & Row.

    BACKGROUND

  • Seligman, M. E. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Simon and Schuster.

    BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal SatisfactionBehavior

Central Study Contacts

Vanessa Blanco, Professor

CONTACT

+34 881813744vanessa.blanco@usc.es

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 27, 2026

First Posted

March 12, 2026

Study Start (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2029

Last Updated

March 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Researchers will report study results through publications. The data supporting these findings will be presented in the main publications, and the datasets used during the study can be obtained from the corresponding author on reasonable request.