TITLE:
Digital Attention Training: Improving the Mental Health and Well-Being of Adolescent Youth
AUTHORS:
Justine Richelle, Bailey R. Dow, Alexander M. Pasch, Jonathan W. Schooler, Michael D. Mrazek, Alissa J. Mrazek
KEYWORDS:
Digital Intervention, Focus, COVID-19, Teenagers, School-Based Research
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.15 No.10,
October
28,
2024
ABSTRACT: In this post-pandemic era, teenagers are still experiencing high levels of mental health-related issues, and scalable solutions to promote adolescents’ well-being are needed. Given that attention plays an important role in the management of stress and emotion, the current proof of concept study examines a digital 22-day intervention designed to help teens train their attention. The current study used a one-group pre-post survey design to examine the effects of completing an attention training program called Finding Focus. Several significant changes were observed from pre-test to post-test, including decreases in self-reported depression and anxiety as well as increases in self-reported life satisfaction, positive affect, stress management, and resilience. Given that mental health issues are on the rise among adolescents, partially due to extra stressors brought on by the pandemic, it is imperative to find solutions that can equip teenagers with the skills they need to overcome these challenges. Further, the current study also investigates common challenges facing school-based interventions and attempts to highlight key areas of focus for future research in the field.