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

Within the past decade, digital coaching programs (DCPs) have emerged as an evidence-based modality to improve mental well-being and emotional intelligence, although there is limited evidence in real-world context. This pragmatic retrospective cohort study sought to determine the preliminary effectiveness of a DCP in improving mental well-being and emotional intelligence within a real-world context. We hypothesized that there would be a significant increase in mental well-being and emotional intelligence. This study included 588 people that voluntarily enrolled in an eight-week, blended care DCP offered through their employers from October 2021 to August 2024. 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. In multivariate linear mixed models adjusting for age, gender, program engagement, and program completion, we observed a significant increase in WHO-5 scores (Cohen’s d = 1.98, p<0.001). Over half of the sample (55.4%) experienced a clinically meaningful improvement on the WHO-5 (i.e., at least a 10-point improvement). BEIS-10 scores also significantly increased from baseline to the end of the program after adjusting for relevant correlates (Cohen’s d = 1.32, p<0.001). These results demonstrate that DCPs can be a viable option for individuals looking to improve their mental well-being. Studies employing hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial designs are now needed to further evaluate the real-world effectiveness of this program.