Young adulthood is marked by a high density of life transitions and developmental challenges. How well individuals navigate these transitions depends considerably on their perceived self-efficacy—the belief in one’s ability to achieve desired outcomes. Correlational evidence links higher self-efficacy to better mental health and adaptive functioning, and experimental interventions have been shown to effectively enhance self-efficacy, primarily at the domain-specific level. However, experimental research remains scarce on whether such increases produce long-term preventive effects against mental disorders.

The SELFTIE study addresses this gap using a randomized controlled design to test the causal effects of a brief cognitive-behavioral training on self-efficacy and mental health outcomes. Young adults with low general self-efficacy but no current mental disorder or planned psychotherapeutic or psychiatric treatment were randomly assigned to either (a) an online group-based self-efficacy training (six 75–90-minute sessions) or (b) an active control condition. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and 12-month follow-up.

The primary experimental manipulation is exposure to the self-efficacy training, with changes in domain-specific and general self-efficacy serving as proximal outcomes. The primary prevention outcome is the incidence of DSM-5 mental disorders over 12 months. This design allows examination of the effects of the intervention on domain-specific and general self-efficacy, as well as on psychopathological symptoms.

Data collection started in November 2024. The presentation will outline the experimental design, report preliminary findings available by February 2026, and discuss implications for experimental approaches to personality change and prevention research.