Testing a Self-affirmation Intervention for Use in a Mobile Application
- Conditions
- Smoking, TobaccoSmokingSmoking Cessation
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Self affirmation, 3 items, no examplesBehavioral: Self affirmation, 10 items, no examplesBehavioral: Self affirmation, 5 items, written examplesBehavioral: Self affirmation, 10 items, imagined examplesBehavioral: Self affirmation, 10 items, written examplesBehavioral: Self affirmation, 3 items, imagined examplesBehavioral: Self affirmation, 5 items, no examplesBehavioral: Self affirmation, 3 items, written examplesBehavioral: Self affirmation, 5 items, imagined examples
- Registration Number
- NCT03405220
- Lead Sponsor
- Kent State University
- Brief Summary
The aim of these studies is to adapt the self-affirmation kindness questionnaire for use in a mobile application. Two studies will be conducted to test hypotheses that simplifying and shortening the original questionnaire in systematic ways will result in comparable effectiveness (compared to the original version) in promoting reduced defensive avoidance, less reactance, greater yielding, and higher intentions to quit smoking among a sample of smokers.
- Detailed Description
Research has shown that self-affirmation interventions, in which people are instructed to focus on their strengths and values, can offset self-threats and promote healthier behaviors, such as smoking cessation. A commonly used self-affirmation intervention is known as the "kindness quiz." The original kindness questionnaire (Reed \& Aspinwall, 1998) consists of 10 yes/no questions, and participants are asked to think about and write down an example of each. For example, one item is "Have you ever been considerate of another person's feelings? ____ YES ____NO; IF YES, WRITE ABOUT A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE." The items were written so that all participants should be able to say "yes" in response to each question, which will affirm a positive view of themselves.
The purpose of these studies are to test shorter and simpler versions of this kindness questionnaire so that it can be implemented on mobile phones. In Study 1, we will test whether written examples are necessary for the effectiveness of the self-affirmation intervention (compared to no examples or imagined examples) compared to a control. In Study 2, we will again test whether written examples are necessary, as well as whether shorter questionnaires (i.e., 5 items or 3 items) are as effective as the original 10 item questionnaire.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- UNKNOWN
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 900
- Currently live in the US
- 21-65 years (several states have 21 as minimum legal age to smoke)
- self-identified every day or some day smoker
- no prior diagnosis of lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or emphysema (the most common and well-known smoking-related diseases
- Not currently living in the US
- Less than 21 years of age or older than 65
- Nonsmoker
- Prior diagnosis of lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or emphysema (the most common and well-known smoking-related diseases
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- FACTORIAL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Self-affirm, 3-item, No ex, Study 2 Self affirmation, 3 items, no examples Behavioral: Self affirmation, 3 items, no examples Self-affirm, 10-item, No ex, Study 2 Self affirmation, 10 items, no examples Behavioral: Self affirmation, 10 items, no examples Self-affirm, 5-item, Write ex, Study 2 Self affirmation, 5 items, written examples Behavioral: Self affirmation, 5 items, written examples Self-affirm, No examples, Study 1 Self affirmation, 10 items, no examples Behavioral: Self affirmation, 10 items, no examples Self-affirm, Imagine examples, Study 1 Self affirmation, 10 items, imagined examples Behavioral: Self affirmation, 10 items, imagined examples Self-affirm, 10-item, Write ex, Study 2 Self affirmation, 10 items, written examples Behavioral: Self affirmation, 10 items, written examples Self-affirm, 10-item, Imagine ex, Study2 Self affirmation, 10 items, imagined examples Behavioral: Self affirmation, 10 items, imagined examples Self-affirm, Write examples, Study 1 Self affirmation, 10 items, written examples Behavioral: Self affirmation, 10 items, written examples Self-affirm, 3-item, Imagine ex, Study 2 Self affirmation, 3 items, imagined examples Behavioral: Self affirmation, 3 items, imagined examples Self-affirm, 5-item, No ex, Study 2 Self affirmation, 5 items, no examples Behavioral: Self affirmation, 5 items, no examples Self-affirm, 3-item, Write ex, Study 2 Self affirmation, 3 items, written examples Behavioral: Self affirmation, 3 items, written examples Self-affirm, 5-item, Imagine ex, Study 2 Self affirmation, 5 items, imagined examples Behavioral: Self affirmation, 5 items, imagined examples
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Reactance immediately post-intervention Indicator of defensive information processing, 27 items (Hall et al., 2016)
Yielding immediately post-intervention Indicator of defensive information processing, 7 items (Brennan et al., 2011, 2014)
Defensive Avoidance immediately post-intervention Indicator of defensive information processing, 3 items (Witte)
Intentions to quit smoking in the next 3 months immediately post-intervention Intentions to quit smoking, 3 items
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Perceived severity immediately post-intervention 3 items
Self-efficacy to quit smoking immediately post-intervention 3 items
Cognitive perceived likelihood of developing smoking related disease immediately post-intervention 3 items
Affective perceived likelihood immediately post-intervention 3 items
Anticipated regret immediately post-intervention 3 items
Response efficacy of quitting smoking immediately post-intervention 3 items
Worry immediately post-intervention 3 items
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Kent State University
🇺🇸Kent, Ohio, United States