Could a short video truly reshape the way teenagers perceive themselves? A groundbreaking study from the University of East Anglia suggests it might—though there’s a twist!

Published in JCPP Advances, the research titled "The Efficacy of an Online Self-Administered Single Session Intervention to Promote Growth Mindset in Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial" reveals that watching a concise, 10-minute video can influence young people's beliefs about their own personality traits.

However, the study also found that this intervention had little immediate impact on anxiety or depression symptoms.

This research contributes to an expanding field of evidence highlighting the potential for online mental health support, emphasizing that while promising, such methods are most effective when integrated into a comprehensive suite of services.

Dr. Kenny Chiu from UEA's Norwich Medical School commented, "Mental health issues impact one in seven young people globally, and in the UK, around 20% are likely to have mental health disorders, yet a staggering 75% are not receiving any form of support. This is a significant issue, especially since many adult mental health problems begin in childhood or adolescence."

Dr. Chiu further stressed the importance of fostering positive emotional well-being and preventing mental health issues from arising in the first place.

Professor Richard Meiser-Stedman, part of the research team, added, "With traditional mental health services under pressure, experts are investigating online single-session interventions—particularly as many prior studies have been based in the US. Our study is a pioneering effort to evaluate a brief, video-based online intervention for UK youth."

The research involved over 100 teenagers recruited from schools and social media, who were divided into two groups: one that watched the mindset intervention and another that was placed on a waitlist. Participants were asked to assess their anxiety, depression, and psychological flexibility, as well as their views on personality before and one month after watching the video.

Dr. Jessica Ball, who spearheaded the study during her doctoral training at UEA, remarked, "While this is one of the UK's first low-cost online trials aimed at youth mental health, it shows encouraging signs. The video may not have significantly reduced anxiety and depression levels, but it did help participants shift towards a growth mindset."

In light of these findings, Dr. Chiu noted, "This research is a promising step towards deploying affordable and scalable solutions to bolster young people’s psychological development."

This pivotal study was conducted collaboratively with Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bath, showcasing how innovative approaches can potentially reshape mental health support for teens.