Impacts of a brief, wellness-promotion intervention on stress and depression among undergraduate college students

Young adults have the highest rates of mental health challenges among any age group, exacerbated by the stress and unhealthy lifestyles that coincide with college attendance. This study examined the effectiveness of a brief, preventative wellness intervention on stress and depression among undergraduate college students, using a mixed-methods, randomized-controlled design. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) revealed significant between-group differences across time for perceived stress (p < .01) and depressive symptoms (p < .01). Focus group themes identified through qualitative analysis further corroborate these results. Ultimately, findings indicate a Solution-Focused Wellness intervention is effective for decreasing stress and depression among undergraduate students.