Social Belonging Online Intervention

In a previous study, Dr. Jenalee Doom, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Denver, and Dr. Christopher Rozek, Assistant Professor of Education at Washington University in St. Louis, found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, students struggle with loneliness, lack of social connection to school and high rates of depression. 

The goal of the project is to examine the long-term effects of a brief online intervention Drs. Doom and Rozek have adapted to the current COVID-19 context, to improve youth social relationships, social well-being, and mental health.  This intervention will be delivered in high schools in order to access a large number of students from diverse backgrounds, including those who do not have access to full mental health services. 

The intervention focuses on normalizing struggles during the pandemic, including online learning, family conflict and navigating peer relationships. The intervention is designed to show students that they are not alone in their struggles and that they can learn to cope with challenges and feel better over time. It changes the belief that emotions are uncontrollable by showing students that they can take actions to change their negative emotions when appropriate. It also helps in changing students’ mindsets and gives them valuable tools to improve their own emotions.