Writing Activities and Emotions
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Interventions
- Behavioral: positive psychological interventionBehavioral: Active control condition
- Registration Number
- NCT04539756
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Pittsburgh
- Brief Summary
The current study aims to test whether an online two-week positive psychological intervention can increase positive affect in college students. Participants will be recruited from the University of Pittsburgh undergraduate subject pool. Students will be ineligible if they are under the age of 18; currently prescribed medications for cardiac arrythmias; have a history of heart surgery, heart attack, or stroke; are currently pregnant; or currently have symptoms consistent with COVID-19. This study includes an active control arm and an intervention arm. Both arms will be required to complete writing activities every other day for two weeks. Participants in the control arm will list their daily activities, while participants in the intervention arm will complete various positive psychology activities. Questionnaires assessing mood, emotional well-being, social functioning and a few health behaviors will be administered pre- and post-intervention. The investigators aim to recruit 250 undergraduate students with the hope that at least 50 participants per group will complete the entire study.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 250
- Must be an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh that is currently taking Introduction to Psychology.
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Not currently prescribed medications for cardiac arrythmias
- Report no history of heart surgery, heart attack, or stroke
- Not currently pregnant
- Must deny having current symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
- If the participant does not meet the inclusion criteria.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Positive psychological intervention positive psychological intervention Participants will be asked to complete writing activities every other day. They will choose which activity they would like to complete each day, from a menu of six different activities. Each activity is a different positive psychology exercise. Active control condition Active control condition Participants in the active control condition will receive the same number of text message reminders and will complete the same number of writing activities as the intervention group. The writing activity for the active control condition will ask them to list their activities for that day.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change from baseline in positive affect at 1 week post-intervention Assessed twice, once before the intervention and a second time within one week of completing the intervention. Positive Emotional Style Questionnaire. The possible range for this questionnaire is from 0 - 36. Baseline values will be subtracted from post-intervention values and a higher score on this measure represents a better outcome.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change from baseline in psychological well-being at 1 week post-intervention Assessed twice, once before the intervention and a second time within one week of completing the intervention. Psychological Well-Being Scale. The possible range for this questionnaire is from 42 - 294. Baseline values will be subtracted from post-intervention values and a higher score on this measure represents a better outcome.
Change from baseline in light physical activity (in general) at 1 week post-intervention Assessed twice, once before the intervention and a second time within one week of completing the intervention. 1-items asking participants to report minutes of light physical activity that they perform 'in general.' Baseline values will be subtracted from post-intervention values and a higher number on this measure represents a better outcome.
Change from baseline in optimism at 1 week post-intervention Assessed twice, once before the intervention and a second time within one week of completing the intervention. Life Orientation Test-Revised. The possible range for this questionnaire is from 6 - 30. Baseline values will be subtracted from post-intervention values and a higher score on this measure represents a better outcome.
Change from baseline in perceived stress at 1 week post-intervention Assessed twice, once before the intervention and a second time within one week of completing the intervention. Perceived Stress Scale. The possible range for this questionnaire is from 0 - 40. Baseline values will be subtracted from post-intervention values and a higher score on this measure represents a worse outcome.
Change from baseline in life satisfaction at 1 week post-intervention Assessed twice, once before the intervention and a second time within one week of completing the intervention. PROMIS - General Life Satisfaction. The possible range for this questionnaire is from 10 - 70. Baseline values will be subtracted from post-intervention values and a higher score on this measure represents a better outcome.
Change from baseline in loneliness at 1 week post-intervention Assessed twice, once before the intervention and a second time within one week of completing the intervention. UCLA Loneliness Scale (8-item). The possible range for this questionnaire is from 0 - 24. Baseline values will be subtracted from post-intervention values and a higher score on this measure represents a worse outcome.
Change from baseline in depressive symptoms at 1 week post-intervention Assessed twice, once before the intervention and a second time within one week of completing the intervention. PROMIS - Emotional Distress - Depression - Short Form. The possible range for this questionnaire is from 8 - 40. Baseline values will be subtracted from post-intervention values and a higher score on this measure represents a worse outcome.
Change from baseline in anxiety symptoms at 1 week post-intervention Assessed twice, once before the intervention and a second time within one week of completing the intervention. PROMIS - Emotional Distress - Anxiety - Short Form. The possible range for this questionnaire is from 7 - 35. Baseline values will be subtracted from post-intervention values and a higher score on this measure represents a worse outcome.
Change from baseline in sleep quality (in general) at 1 week post-intervention Assessed twice, once before the intervention and a second time within one week of completing the intervention. 1-item asking participants to report their overall sleep quality in general. Sleep quality was assessed on a Likert scale from Very bad (0) to Very good (5). Higher scores reflect a better outcome.
Change from baseline in perceived social support at 1 week post-intervention Assessed twice, once before the intervention and a second time within one week of completing the intervention. ISEL (12-item). The possible range for this questionnaire is from 12 - 48. Baseline values will be subtracted from post-intervention values and a higher score on this measure represents a better outcome.
Change from baseline in moderate physical activity (in general) at 1 week post-intervention Assessed twice, once before the intervention and a second time within one week of completing the intervention. 1-item asking participants to report minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity that they perform 'in general.' Baseline values will be subtracted from post-intervention values and a higher number on this measure represents a better outcome.
Change from baseline in negative affect at 1 week post-intervention Assessed twice, once before the intervention and a second time within one week of completing the intervention. Negative Emotional Style Questionnaires. The possible range for this questionnaire is from 0 - 36. Baseline values will be subtracted from post-intervention values and a higher score on this measure represents a worse outcome.
Change from baseline in sleep quantity (in general) at 1 week post-intervention Assessed twice, once before the intervention and a second time within one week of completing the intervention. 1-items asking participants to report how long they typically sleep each night.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
University of Pittsburgh
🇺🇸Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States