NCT06140498

Effects of Self-Efficacy Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMA) App

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 93 (actual)
• Sponsor: The New School · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 61 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This "SeApp" study aims to test a self-efficacy Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) in healthy students in the context of COVID-19. EMIs are mostly smartphone-based applications that deliver interventions to people while being engaged in their daily life activities. The app harnesses the power of self-efficacy autobiographical memories (e.g. problem-solving memories, memories of success). Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) are also incorporated into the study to capture individuals' feelings, affect, and behavior in real time. Clarification added \[September 2025\]: The record previously showed an incorrect estimated enrollment due to a data entry error. The planned enrollment for this trial was 93, consistent with comparable prior studies, and enrollment was closed when 93 participants had been enrolled.

Detailed description

This "SeApp" study aims to test a self-efficacy Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) in healthy students in the context of COVID-19. EMIs are mostly smartphone-based applications that deliver interventions to people while being engaged in their daily life activities. The app harnesses the power of self-efficacy autobiographical memories (e.g. problem-solving memories, memories of success). Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) are also incorporated into the study to capture individuals' feelings, affect, and behavior in real time. Developed by psychologist Dr. Albert Bandura in 1977, the concept of self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability to perform the necessary actions to manage particular situations. Bandura's theory highlights four major components of self-efficacy, including mastery experiences, socialmodeling, social persuasion, and psychological responses. The app tested here focuses on mastery experiences, which are what individuals gain when they take on a challenge and succeed. The app prompts participants in the daily recall of self-efficacy memories. The project aims to test its feasibility and to investigate how daily self-efficacy and motivation can be enhanced and perceived stress and depression reduced by daily memory-based training via smartphone app.

Conditions

• Self Efficacy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Self-Efficacy Training and Ecological Momentary Assessment	Participants receive 3 self-efficacy trainings per day, combined with Ecological Momentary Assessments assessing mood, social contacts, and virtual context 3x/day for one week
BEHAVIORAL	Control intervention: Ecological Momentary Assessment only	Participants receive Ecological Momentary Assessments assessing mood, social contacts, and virtual context 3x/day for one week only

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-11-01
• Primary completion: 2022-12-15
• Completion: 2023-03-30
• First posted: 2023-11-20
• Last updated: 2025-10-06

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States