Recruiting soon

MindfulCityUMindfulCityU: A University-Specific Digital Mindfulness Intervention for Improving Mental Health

Study Aim

This study aims to improve your mental health, including depression, anxiety, and stress, through a university-specific digital mindfulness intervention, with the progress being measured using the Chinese Depression Anxiety Stress Scale Youth Version (DASS-Y).

What is being tested

MindfulCityU

+ Waitlist control

BehavioralOther

Who is being recruted

Behavior

+ Behavioral Symptoms

+ Depression

From 18 to 30 Years

+2 Eligibility Criteria

See all eligibility criteria

How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Interventional

Study Start: February 2026

See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorCity University of Hong Kong

Study ContactKim-wan Daniel YOUNG, PhD

Last updated: February 7, 2026

Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: February 15, 2026

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

University students, particularly in Hong Kong, face a significant mental health crisis with high rates of depression and anxiety. This study aims to address this issue by developing and evaluating a digital mindfulness intervention called MindfulCityU, specifically designed for university students. The goal is to improve mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, stress, and well-being, by providing a culturally adapted, university-specific mindfulness tool that can be easily integrated into daily routines. The research uses a mixed methods design, involving both quantitative and qualitative studies. In the quantitative study, participants will be randomly assigned to either use the MindfulCityU app or be on a waitlist. The app provides eight structured sessions over four weeks, introducing mindfulness concepts, techniques, and practices. It also includes daily practice options, progress tracking, and mood check-ins. The primary outcome is improvement in mental health, measured using the Chinese Depression Anxiety Stress Scale Youth Version (DASS-Y). The study also evaluates app engagement and how it affects the intervention's effectiveness. In the qualitative study, interviews will be conducted to explore the benefits, advantages, and limitations of the MindfulCityU from the users' perspective.

Official TitleMindfulCityU: Implementation and Evaluation of a Mindfulness Mobile Application for Promoting University Students' Mental Health

NCT07392632

Principal SponsorCity University of Hong Kong

Study ContactKim-wan Daniel YOUNG, PhD

Last updated: February 7, 2026

Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

Design Details

120 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.

Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Conditions

Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

From 18 to 30 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

BehaviorBehavioral SymptomsDepression

Criteria

1 inclusion criteria required to participate

current undergraduate or postgraduate students; (ii) aged 18-30 years; (iii) possessing smartphone ownership and reliable internet access necessary for intervention engagement; (iv) having a score between 10-23 on the DASS-Y Depression subscale indicating a mild to moderate depressive symptom; and (v) provide informed consent

1 exclusion criteria prevent from participating

students currently engaged in formal mindfulness training exceeding one session per week will be excluded to prevent confounding effects from concurrent mindfulness practice; (ii) those scoring above 23 on the DASS-Y Depression subscale, indicating severe symptoms, will be excluded and referred to appropriate clinical services to ensure their safety and access to needed care; (iii) students reporting active suicidal ideation or self-harm behaviors will be immediately referred to crisis intervention services and excluded from study participation to prioritize their safety; (iv) current engagement in psychotherapy or recent medication changes within the previous four weeks; (v) students planning to leave the university during the study period.

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.

Treatment Groups

Study Objectives

2 intervention groups are designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group

Treatment Groups

Group I

Active Comparator

Participants in this group get access to MindfulCityU, an online platform with 8 mindfulness modules to learn from home using smartphones or computers.

Group II

Participants in this group continue with their usual services from schools, universities or youth units. They will get full access to the digital MBI application after a 4-week waiting period.

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Suspended

City University of Hong Kong

Kowloon Tong, Hong KongOpen City University of Hong Kong in Google Maps

Recruiting soonOne Study Center