A quick online course that takes just 20 to 30 minutes can help young adults become more comfortable with uncertainty and reduce their anxiety and depression.
That’s the finding of a new study by psychologists at UNSW Sydney, recently published in the journal Psychological Medicine.
The researchers found that the mental health benefits from the course lasted at least a month after taking it.
This is important because young adults today are facing constant uncertainty—from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to the rising cost of living and lack of affordable housing.
Associate Professor Susanne Schweizer, who led the study, says that high levels of uncertainty are one reason why so many young people are struggling with mental health. In this study, her team showed that a short, easy-to-access course could make a meaningful difference.
The researchers worked with 259 young adults aged 18 to 24. They divided them into three groups. One group took the “Uncertainty-Mindset Training,” which was designed to help them see uncertainty as less scary and to teach coping skills. This group also learned the STAR method—Stop, Accept, and Re-think—to stop worry and overthinking.
Another group took a different course called “Psychoeducation Training.” This course talked about general mental health topics like handling emotions and building good habits, but it didn’t directly address uncertainty. The third group didn’t take any training at all, which allowed researchers to compare results.
The results showed that the group who completed the Uncertainty-Mindset Training had the biggest improvements in mental health. They were better at handling uncertainty and reported lower levels of anxiety and depression one month after the course. Even though the course was short, the positive effects were clear and measurable.
Interestingly, when researchers checked back again after three months, these participants still had a better tolerance for uncertainty. However, the improvements in anxiety and depression had started to fade a bit. This suggests that while the training has lasting effects, it might work even better with booster sessions over time.
Associate Professor Schweizer said that this type of low-cost, easy-to-use course could be a great tool for reaching young people who may not have access to therapy or traditional mental health care. She stressed that it’s not a replacement for professional help in serious cases, but it can be a powerful tool for prevention.
The team now plans to improve the training and explore ways to make the benefits last even longer. First author Sarah Daniels, now at the University of Cambridge, says that brief courses like this one could make a big difference if offered widely to young people around the world.
They also want to see if the course can help other groups who face a lot of uncertainty, like new parents or people waiting for medical test results. The goal is to give more people simple tools to help manage stress and stay mentally healthy in a changing world.
If you care about health, please read studies that scientists find a core feature of depression and this metal in the brain strongly linked to depression.
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