Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Aug;28(3):147-54.
doi: 10.1111/jcap.12119. Epub 2015 Aug 13.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effects of the COPE Online Cognitive-Behavioral Skill-Building Program on Mental Health Outcomes and Academic Performance in Freshmen College Students: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk  1   2 , Megan Amaya  3 , Laura A Szalacha  1 , Jacqueline Hoying  1 , Tiffany Taylor  4 , Kristen Bowersox  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effects of the COPE Online Cognitive-Behavioral Skill-Building Program on Mental Health Outcomes and Academic Performance in Freshmen College Students: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk et al. J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Nurs. 2015 Aug.

Abstract

Problem: Despite the increasing prevalence of mental health disorders in university students, few receive needed evidence-based treatment.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and preliminary effects of a seven-session online cognitive-behavioral skill-building intervention (i.e., COPE, Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment) versus a comparison group on their anxiety, depressive symptoms, and grade performance.

Methods: A randomized controlled pilot study was conducted from September 2012 to May 2013 with 121 college freshmen enrolled in a required one credit survey course.

Findings: Although there were no significant differences in anxiety and depressive symptoms between the groups, only COPE students with an elevated level of anxiety at baseline had a significant decline in symptoms. Grade point average was higher in COPE versus comparison students. Evaluations indicated that COPE was a positive experience for students.

Conclusions: COPE is a promising brief intervention that can be integrated effectively into a required freshman course.

Keywords: Academic performance; anxiety; college student; depression; intervention; mental health.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types