title: Comparison of two approaches to prevention of mental health problems in college students: Enhancing coping and executive function skills.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  College students face a significant number of stressors, increasing risk for internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. The current study examines two promising avenues of intervention aimed to reduce stress and prevent psychopathology in this population: a coping skills group and a cognitive training program.
  
  
  METHODS
  62 undergraduate students from two universities were recruited from 2013 to 2015.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students were randomized to a 6-week coping skills group or cognitive training program and completed measures of stress, coping, executive function, and symptoms of anxiety, depression and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at pre- and post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants in both conditions reported significant decreases in social stress, executive function difficulties, and anxiety symptoms post-intervention. Students in the cognitive program improved significantly more on measures of behavior regulation and ADHD symptoms compared to the coping group at post-intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brief stress management interventions targeting coping and executive function may benefit college students at risk for psychopathology.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Human Development , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Bettis
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , Loyola University Maryland , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
authors.forename: Mary Jo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Coiro
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , Loyola University Maryland , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: England
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Human Development , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: Lexa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Human Development , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: Rachel L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Zelkowitz
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Human Development , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: Leandra
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dejardins
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Human Development , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eskridge
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Human Development , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: Laura Hieber
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Adery
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Human Development , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yarboi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , Loyola University Maryland , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Human Development , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: Bruce E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Compas
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Prevention; coping; executive function; intervention; stress