Personalized mindfulness versus problem-solving to improve sleep and well-being in first-year students
Cognitive Training for First-Year Student Sleep and Wellness
This project will test whether a personalized digital mindfulness program or a problem-solving stress-management program helps first-year college students sleep better and feel less stressed.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Carnegie Mellon University Academic / other |
| Locations | 4 sites (Notre Dame, Indiana and 3 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07350733 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized trial will enroll 200 full-time first-year undergraduates across Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Notre Dame, and Penn State and randomly assign them to 14 days of audio-guided smartphone lessons in either a personalized mindfulness program or a problem-solving stress-management program. Participants complete baseline surveys on stress, well-being, and health behaviors, wear a provided Fitbit to track sleep and activity through the semester, and fill out daily diaries for the week before and the week after the intervention. Follow-up online surveys are collected within 10 days after the intervention and again at the end of the semester to capture short- and medium-term changes. The design compares engagement, adherence, sleep duration, mental health, and academic-related outcomes between the two approaches.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Full-time first-year undergraduates aged 18 or older who are enrolled at and on campus at Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Notre Dame, or Penn State for the Spring 2026 semester and who have a data-enabled smartphone are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Students who are under 18, enrolled part-time, not on campus for Spring 2026, or without a compatible smartphone are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from the interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the programs could offer easy-to-access digital tools that help first-year students sleep more, reduce stress, and support academic adjustment.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies of mindfulness and cognitive coping programs have shown modest improvements in stress and sleep, but directly comparing a personalized digital mindfulness program to a problem-solving intervention in first-year college students is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Carnegie Mellon University, Notre Dame, Columbia, or Penn State undergraduate student in their 1st year of study * 18 years of age or older * Have a data-enabled smartphone * Speak English * On campus for the duration of the Spring 2026 semester Exclusion Criteria: * Under 18 years of age at time of enrollment * Not enrolled full-time as a student
Where this trial is running
Notre Dame, Indiana and 3 other locations
- University of Notre Dame — Notre Dame, Indiana, United States (Recruiting)
- Columbia University — New York, New York, United States (Recruiting)
- Carnegie Mellon University — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
- Pennsylvania State University — University Park, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Sarah Wu
- Email: sarahwu@andrew.cmu.edu
- Phone: (412) 238-7896
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.