Interventions for Students' Well-Being at the University of Helsinki (INSIGHT): Protocol and Preliminary Descriptive Results for a Quasi-Experimental Controlled Trial of a Social Identity Intervention and Two Active Comparators.
Martikainen S, Karhunen O, et al. • JMIR research protocols • 2026
This paper presents the protocol and preliminary descriptive findings for a quasi-experimental controlled trial (INSIGHT) investigating a social-identity group intervention called Groups 4 Health (G4H) for university students' well-being, with first results expected in 2026.
Key Findings
Methods
The INSIGHT study is a 4 parallel-arm nonrandomized controlled trial aiming to recruit 600 student participants from the University of Helsinki.
The four arms include: the experimental G4H intervention group, two active comparator groups, and a no-intervention control group.
The experimental G4H group consists of 5 group meetings held over a 7-week period.
Active comparators include groups organized by University of Helsinki study psychologists and a 7-week online intervention course focused on well-being and study skills.
The study is described as a quasi-experimental controlled trial due to its nonrandomized design.
Methods
The primary quantitative outcomes of the study are loneliness and depression, with secondary outcomes including multiple measures of students' well-being, academic performance, and cost-effectiveness.
Secondary outcomes include several measures of students' well-being and academic performance.
Cost-effectiveness of the intervention is also included as a secondary outcome.
Quantitative data are collected at five time points: before the intervention (baseline), during the intervention at week 3, immediately post-intervention at week 7 after baseline, and at 1- and 3-month follow-ups.
Both quantitative and qualitative methods are employed in the overall study design.
Background
Loneliness is identified as a key risk factor for mental health problems among university students and disproportionately affects students from minority backgrounds.
University students' mental health problems are described as prevalent globally.
Loneliness and lack of inclusion are highlighted as particularly relevant for minority student populations.
The rationale for choosing a social-identity intervention is grounded in the link between loneliness, social exclusion, and mental health.
Addressing loneliness and fostering inclusion and equality are described as 'crucial strategies for enhancing students' well-being.'
Methods
The qualitative component of the study is designed to explore challenges and opportunities related to inclusion and equality within the G4H intervention.
Qualitative methods include observations, interviews, and focus group discussions.
The qualitative arm specifically targets issues of inclusion and equality as they arise during implementation of the G4H intervention.
This mixed-methods approach allows examination of both outcomes and implementation processes.
Results
Preliminary findings from the first data freeze in March 2025 revealed differences in background characteristics between the trial arms, highlighting the need to address group selection bias.
The preliminary findings are based on a data freeze conducted in March 2025.
Observed differences in background characteristics across arms are attributed to the nonrandomized (quasi-experimental) design.
The authors explicitly note this highlights 'the need to address group selection bias' in analyses.
First full results from the study are expected in 2026.
Methods
The Groups 4 Health (G4H) intervention is a structured social-identity group program consisting of 5 meetings over 7 weeks targeting university students' well-being.
G4H is described as a 'social-identity group intervention.'
The intervention involves group-based meetings rather than individual therapy or fully self-directed online activities.
It is positioned as an accessible and cost-effective mental health service suitable for the university setting.
The intervention is hypothesized to improve well-being in both the short and long term, 'fostering mental health and supporting academic success and future career paths.'
What This Means
This research describes the design and early enrollment findings of a large study at the University of Helsinki called INSIGHT, which is testing whether a group-based social connection program can improve the mental health and well-being of university students. The program being tested, called Groups 4 Health (G4H), brings students together in small groups over seven weeks to build social identity and reduce loneliness — a major risk factor for depression and other mental health problems, especially among students from minority or marginalized backgrounds. The study compares this program to two other types of support (counseling groups run by university psychologists and an online well-being course) as well as to a group of students who receive no intervention at all.
The study is still underway, and full results are not yet available — they are expected in 2026. However, early data collected up to March 2025 already revealed that the students who ended up in different arms of the study differ from each other in their background characteristics, which is a known challenge when participants are not randomly assigned to groups. The researchers note this means they will need to carefully account for these differences when analyzing the results to make fair comparisons between groups.
This research matters because mental health problems among university students are a growing global concern, and most universities lack enough resources to provide individual therapy to all students who need it. This research suggests that group-based social programs focusing on building connection and belonging could be a scalable, cost-effective way to support student well-being — and may be especially important for students who feel excluded or isolated. If the G4H program proves effective, it could offer universities a practical tool for reducing loneliness and depression while also supporting students' academic success.
Martikainen S, Karhunen O, Mankki I, Gergov V, Berg P, Venäläinen S, et al.. (2026). Interventions for Students' Well-Being at the University of Helsinki (INSIGHT): Protocol and Preliminary Descriptive Results for a Quasi-Experimental Controlled Trial of a Social Identity Intervention and Two Active Comparators.. JMIR research protocols. https://doi.org/10.2196/79319