The Effects of Brief, Psychological Interventions (Micro-Interventions) on the Individual Stress Reactivity
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 90
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Subjective Stress Ratings
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study aims to investigate the effects of short, psychological interventions on bio-psychological stress responses after an acute stressor. The efficacy of two different approaches (expectation-bases vs. acceptance-based) will be compared to a control-group.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Basic Science
- Masking
- Single (Participant)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 50 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •fluent in German language
Exclusion Criteria
- •chronic disease
- •mental disease
- •the evening before the day of the experiment until end of the experiment (the next day):
- •caffeine, alcohol, intensive physical exercise, chewing gum
- •acute hay fever
- •current intake of psychotropic medication
- •current intake of orale contraceptives
- •visual impairments
- •heart conditions (self and close relatives)
Arms & Interventions
Expectation
Participants are asked to think of three strength which have helped them in prior stressful events. They then have to think of ways how these strength may help them in future stressful situations, i.e. a test in this experiment.
Intervention: Expectation (Behavioral)
Acceptance
Participants listen to an audio-instruction on cognitive defusion. They shall observe the thoughts and feelings of stress and, with the help of the instruction, distance themselves from it.
Intervention: Acceptance (Behavioral)
Control
Participants wait for the stress-test to start.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Subjective Stress Ratings
Time Frame: at baseline, before the intervention, after the intervention; during the stressor, after the stressor; in total 45 minutes
VAS (visual analogue scale)
Change in Cortisol Levels
Time Frame: at baseline (min. -37), after the intervention (min. -19), after the stressor (min. 0), recovery 1 (min. +15), recovery 2 (min. +30); in total 67 minutes
saliva sample
Changes in Heart-Rate-Variability (HRV)
Time Frame: during baseline (duration 10 minutes), during the stressor (duration 20 minutes), during recovery (duration 10 minutes); in total 40 minutes
electrocardiogram
Changes in Affect
Time Frame: at baseline, after the stressor; in total 45 minutes
VAS (visual analogue scale)
Secondary Outcomes
- Self-Efficacy(at baseline, after the recovery-phase; in total 55 minutes)
- Positivity(at baseline, after the recovery-phase; in total 55 minutes)