(PS3-B26) Effects of a Digital Program on Perceived Stress and Rumination in Adolescents Aged 13-17 Years

Adolescent stress is a growing area of concern among researchers because of its prevalence and its association with internalizing and externalizing disorders, as well as poorer physical and academic outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns, social restrictions, and interruption to daily life further exacerbated the mental health crisis among adolescents. Despite public health efforts to increase access to care for adolescents, there is a shortage of providers, and widely accessible, cost-effective solutions for improving adolescent stress and well-being remain rare. Furthermore, most traditional stress-management programs have mixed evidence and do not incorporate methods to address the underlying negative cognitive processes, such as rumination, that may contribute to or exacerbate the effects of perceived stress. Consequently, the development of effective programs to help address adolescent stress and negative cognitive processes is important. And, as we learned throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, scalable and accessible digital solutions for this age group are particularly important. The aim of this study was to test the effects of a digital wellness program (Happify for Teens) on perceived stress and rumination. This particular program was developed for adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17, and it consists of gamified versions of evidence-based activities adapted from cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and positive psychology. In the current study, adolescents aged 13 to 17 with elevated levels of perceived stress and brooding were randomly assigned to complete 8 weeks of Happify for Teens (N=73) or to a waitlist control group (N=89). We assessed levels of perceived stress and rumination at baseline, and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Compared to the waitlist control, participants who were assigned to the Happify for Teens condition had significantly greater improvements in perceived stress (d = 0.41-.65), and rumination (d = 0.37-.46) at the midpoint,  post-intervention, and follow-up assessments. This randomized controlled trial was one of the first attempts to examine the potential benefits of a digital wellness program designed specifically for adolescents. Although testing with active controls is needed, this data suggests that a digital program may be a feasible way of improving stress management among adolescents, offering alternative solutions to the traditional - but problematic - approach of school-based programs.