Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Mar 11, 2021
Date Accepted: Dec 29, 2021
Efficacy of Smartphone-based Application on Stress Reduction: A Randomized Control Trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Stress management within the workplace is important for a healthy mental and physical state. Due to technological advancements, individual-tailored therapy as well as online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is on the rise.
Objective:
This study analyzed the efficacy of a smartphone application based on third-wave CBT tailored to the individual.
Methods:
A randomized control trial was conducted on 126 participants who were divided into two groups. The intervention group used the smartphone application “BetterLife” for 10 weeks whilst the control group was put on a waiting list for the same duration. The Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS), Korean Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-9 (UWES), World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment, abbreviated (WHOQOL), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were conducted at baseline and after 10 weeks in both groups.
Results:
Out of the 126 particiapnts, 11 dropped out during the trial. Two-way repeated measure analysis of covariance was conducted controlling for baseline BDI. There were greater improvements in PSS (F=24.33, P <.001, η2=0.17) and UWESK scores (F=8.32, P =.0046, η2=0.06) in the intervention group compared to the control group. WHOQOL scores exhibited statistically significance interactions in the intervention group in the overall quality of life (F=8.19, P =.0049, η2=0.06), and physical health (F= 8.87, P =.003, η2=0.07), psychological (F=13.32, P <.001, η2=0.10), social relationship (F= 19.43, P <.001, η2=0.14), and environmental domains (F= 10.14, P =.002, η2=0.08) but not in overall health (F= 1.68, P =.20). BDI showed a statistically significant improvement in the intervention group (F=7.17, P =.008, η2=0.06) as well as BAI (F=6.00, P =.02, η2=0.05), but this significance did not survive the Bonferroni’s correction (P <.005).
Conclusions:
These results provide evidence that a smartphone application-based CBT is a viable option for reducing stress in the workplace. Clinical Trial: This trial has been registered in the Clinical Research Information Service (KCT0003231), a member of the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform.
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