2 - (SYM 70) Pilot Feasibility and Acceptability of a Culturally-enhanced Web-based Interpretation Training Program for Anxiety Among Spanish-speaking Latinx Individuals

Given the lack of accessible options to help manage anxiety for Spanish-speaking, Latinx individuals, self-guided digital mental health interventions may be a critical tool to help fill the huge need for low-cost, effective services for this subpopulation (Muñoz, 2022). Accordingly, this study developed a two-session, culturally-enhanced, Spanish translation of a web-based cognitive bias modification for interpretation intervention for anxiety (called MindTrails-Spanish), and pilot tested the intervention in a sample of Spanish-speaking, Latinx individuals to obtain pilot feasibility and acceptability data.

A pool of 1,151 Spanish-speaking, Latinx individuals with a history of anxiety were identified by a research panel. Of these, n=770 English/Spanish bilingual participants were randomized to receive either an invitation for the standard English version of MindTrails (n=388; Condition 1), or an invitation for MindTrails-Spanish (n=382; Condition 2). Additionally, n=381 monolingual Spanish-speakers were allocated to receive an invitation for MindTrails-Spanish (Condition 3). Upon receiving the recruitment invitation, individuals could click on a hyperlink to visit the MindTrails website, enroll, and complete two MindTrails sessions (completed once-per week). Hypotheses and planned analyses were pre-registered through Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/s9qbr). 

Across conditions, 96 individuals (8.3%) clicked the link to visit the MindTrails website, 27 (2.3%) enrolled, and 21 (1.8%) started the first session. Monolingual Spanish-speaking (vs. bilingual) participants had a greater probability of enrolling (OR=2.3) and starting the first session (OR=2.6). Participants in all three conditions experienced improvements in negative interpretation bias (Condition 1 d=-.73; Condition 2 d=-2.04; Condition 3 d=-.64), positive interpretation bias (Condition 1 d=.32; Condition 2 d=.38; Condition 3 d=.66), and anxiety symptoms (Condition 1 d=-2.62; Condition 2 d=-1.67; Condition 3 d=-.45). Further, participants in all three conditions perceived the intervention as acceptable based on quantitative measures of user experience and qualitative feedback.

Results offer preliminary evidence that MindTrails-Spanish is a feasible, acceptable, and useful anxiety support for Spanish-speaking, Latinx individuals and suggest that a larger efficacy trial is warranted. Challenges of recruiting Spanish-speaking, Latinx individuals for digital mental health intervention trials will be discussed.