A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of a Web-Based Intervention on Perceived Stress and Diet Quality Among First-Year University Students

Backgrounde-Health interventions can potentially improve health care. My Viva Plan® (MVP) is a web-based program that focuses on mindfulness, nutrition, and physical fitness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of this platform on stress indicators and diet quality among first-year university students.MethodsNinety-seven university students were enrolled in a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Participants were randomized into control (n = 49) and MVP (n = 48) groups. Perceived stress was measured using the self-report Stress Indicator Questionnaire. Diet quality was assessed by the nutrient-rich foods index, and body composition was assessed by a hand-to-foot, multifrequency, bioelectrical impedance analysis.ResultsThere were no differences in physical, sleep, behavioral, emotional, and personal habit indicators between groups. Diet quality and body composition were similar between groups, except among women in the MVP group with decreased body fat (-1.2 ± 2.6 kg, p