NZ-made app for Covid wellbeing helps with stress and anxiety

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-10-04 13:12

New Zealand

PHOTO: David Kennedy/Unsplash

University of Auckland researchers have tested whether a wellbeing app they rapidly made at the start of the pandemic helped young people cope a little better. They recruited 20 young people ages 16-25 to try out the first prototype of the app, titled Whitu, which was developed using evidence-based strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy. They found significant improvements in anxiety, stress, depression and wellbeing six weeks after starting. Self-compassion, optimism and sleep quality didn’t change, however.

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Research Elsevier, Web page

Journal/
conference: Internet Interventions

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Auckland, Counties Manukau Health; Tamaki Health; Auckland District Health Board

Funder: The Starship Foundation; Auckland Medical Research Foundation. Funders did not have any direct involvement in the design or conduct of the study, data analysis or preparation of results.

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