TY  - JOUR
AU  - Prydz, Monica Beer
AU  - Czajkowski, Nikolai Olavi
AU  - Eilertsen, Maja
AU  - Røysamb, Espen
AU  - Nes, Ragnhild Bang
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/5/20
TI  - A Web-Based Intervention Using "Five Ways to Wellbeing" to Promote Well-Being and Mental Health: Randomized Controlled Trial
JO  - JMIR Ment Health
SP  - e49050
VL  - 11
KW  - well-being
KW  - mental health promotion
KW  - intervention
KW  - web based
KW  - low cost
KW  - broad outreach
KW  - framework
KW  - web-based intervention
KW  - randomized controlled trial
KW  - effectiveness
AB  - Background: Compromised well-being and mental health problems pose a significant threat to individuals and societies worldwide. Resource-intensive psychological treatments alone cannot alleviate this burden. There is a need for low-cost, evidence-based interventions aimed at preventing illness and promoting well-being. Five activity domains appear to be linked with well-being promotion across populations: connecting with others, being active, taking notice, learning, and being generous/giving. The activities mentioned are part of the Five Ways to Wellbeing framework and the web-based intervention Five Ways to Wellbeing for All (5waysA). Objective: This randomized controlled trial aims to test the effects of the 5waysA intervention, a web-based, low-cost, well-being–promoting measure targeting the general population. To date, the Five Ways to Wellbeing framework has not been tested in this specific format. The 5waysA intervention comprises 2 webinars and SMS text message reminders delivered over a 10-week period. Methods: In 2021, a total of 969 study participants from various regions across Norway were openly recruited through a web page. They were then randomly assigned to either an intervention group or 1 of 2 waiting list control groups, namely, active or passive. Self-reported life satisfaction (Satisfaction With Life Scale [SWLS]), flourishing (Flourishing Scale [FS]), positive emotions, anxiety, and depression symptoms (Hopkins Symptom Checklist-8 [HSCL-8]) were assessed before the intervention, at 4 weeks into the intervention, and 1-2 weeks after the intervention (over 10 weeks). Data analysis was conducted using linear mixed (multilevel) models. Results: After 10 weeks, 453 participants (171 in the intervention group and 282 in the waiting list control group) were assessed on outcome variables, with a dropout rate of 53.2% (516/969). Results revealed a significantly greater increase in the intervention group compared with the controls for SWLS (b=0.13, 95% CI 0.03-0.23; P=.001), FS (b=0.19, 95% CI 0.08-0.30; P=.001), positive emotions (b=0.43, 95% CI 0.27-0.60; P<.001), and these factors combined into a global well-being measure (b=0.28, CI 0.16-0.39; P<.001). Effect sizes (Cohen d) for the well-being outcomes ranged from 0.30 to 0.49. In addition, a significant decrease in anxiety and depressive symptoms was observed (b=–0.17, 95% CI –0.30 to –0.04; P=.001)  with an effect size (Cohen d) of –0.20. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the web-based 5waysA intervention could serve as an effective approach for enhancing well-being and mental health within the general population. This study offers individuals, policy makers, and local stakeholders an accessible and potentially cost-effective well-being intervention that could be easily implemented. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04784871; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04784871 
SN  - 2368-7959
UR  - https://mental.jmir.org/2024/1/e49050
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/49050
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38767958
DO  - 10.2196/49050
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/49050
ER  -