Feasibility of a Digital Coaching Program for Improving Mental Well-Being and Emotional Intelligence: Pragmatic Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract BackgroundWithin the past decade, digital coaching programs (DCPs) have emerged as an evidence-based modality to improve mental well-being and emotional intelligence (EI), although there is limited evidence in real-world contexts. ObjectiveThis pragmatic r...

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Main Authors: Nicholas Chalmer Peiper, Adam Pettitt, Bela Shah, Oliver Attwood, Ella Sivonen, Jeffrey Pfeffer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2025-08-01
Series:JMIR Formative Research
Online Access:https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e71828
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Summary:Abstract BackgroundWithin the past decade, digital coaching programs (DCPs) have emerged as an evidence-based modality to improve mental well-being and emotional intelligence (EI), although there is limited evidence in real-world contexts. ObjectiveThis pragmatic retrospective cohort study aims to determine the preliminary effectiveness of a DCP in improving mental well-being and EI within a real-world context. We hypothesized that there would be a significant increase in mental well-being and EI. MethodsThis study included 588 people who voluntarily enrolled in an 8-week, blended care DCP offered through their employers from October 2021 to August 2024. The DCP included routine check-ins and consultations with certified coaches. Participants completed the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) at baseline and then weekly until the end of the program, as well as the Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale-10 (BEIS-10) at baseline and the end of the program. Multivariable linear mixed models examined changes in WHO-5 (biweekly) and BEIS-10 (pre-post) scores, adjusting for age, gender, program engagement, and program completion. Multivariable logistic regression models evaluated correlates of clinically meaningful improvements on the WHO-5 (ie, at least a 10-point improvement). We calculated a reliable change index (RCI) for the BEIS-10 and the proportion of participants meeting the RCI criterion from baseline to end of treatment. ResultsIn multivariate linear mixed models adjusting for demographics and program characteristics, we observed a significant increase in WHO-5 scores (baseline x¯x¯dPx¯x¯dP ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that DCPs can be a viable option for individuals looking to improve their mental well-being. Additional efforts should focus on establishing reliable change metrics for EI measures. Studies using hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial designs are now needed to further evaluate the real-world effectiveness of this program.
ISSN:2561-326X