MindHike, a Digital Coaching Application to Promote Self-Control: Rationale, Content, and Study Protocol

• Main Authors: Mathias Allemand, Lara Keller, Benjamin Gmür, Victoria Gehriger, Timon Oberholzer, Mirjam Stieger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-10-01
• Series: Frontiers in Psychiatry
• Subjects: digital coaching; promotion of self-control; process model of self-control; conscientiousness; smartphone application (App); MindHike
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.575101/full

This protocol describes a study that will test the effectiveness of a 7-week non-clinical digital coaching intervention to promote self-control. The goal of the coaching is to support and guide people who are willing and motivated to improve their self-control with the help of the smartphone application MindHike. The coaching is based on a process model of self-control and aims to target five groups of self-control strategies. The goal of the study is to examine the effectiveness of the digital coaching intervention. A single-arm study design with pre-test, post-test and 2-month follow-up assessments and process assessments will be used to evaluate the 7-week digital coaching intervention. The digital coaching includes 49 daily lessons that are organized along 7 weekly core themes. Study participants will be at least 150 adults aged 18 years and older who are willing and motivated to improve their self-control using the MindHike application. This is the first study testing the effectiveness of a digital coaching intervention to promote self-control. Given that this approach proves effective, it could be easily implemented in various non-clinical settings such as education, health, relationship, and work, and in clinical settings. Due to its digital low-threshold character, it could also reach large numbers of people.