Efficacy of an Smartphone App Intervention Based on Self-Compassion for Mental Health Among University Students During and After Covid-19: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Mental Health Issue
- Sponsor
- Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre
- Enrollment
- 150
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Anxiety
- Status
- Not Yet Recruiting
- Last Updated
- 2 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
Since the beginning of Covid-19, there has been an increase in the incidence of mental disorders and psychopathological symptoms, such as depression, anxiety and stress, among university students. Even with the end of social distancing, many students still have losses in emotional well-being, so psychotherapeutic interventions are important for the recovery and promotion of the mental health of this public. Interventions based on self-compassion have been associated with improving the mental health of different audiences, either by reducing psychopathological symptoms (such as anxiety) or improving positive constructs associated with mental health, such as hope and optimism. One way to administer interventions based on self-compassion is through mHealth technologies, which have been consolidating since the pandemic. Some studies sought to assess the benefits of self-compassion-based interventions administered in the mHealth format among university students suggest that they have acceptability and are effective regarding indicators of emotional well-being. However, in Brazil, there is still no digital intervention for the cultivation of self-compassion among university students, which could help to mitigate the deleterious effects of the pandemic on mental health. Considering this gap, an intervention based on self-compassion administered via a smartphone app called "Eu + Compassivo" was developed. The present study seeks to evaluate its efficacy in mental health indicators, both psychopathological symptoms and Positive Psychology constructs.
Investigators
Bruno Luis Schaab
Principal Investigator
Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Must be enrolled in a course that originally works in the face-to-face format
- •Having basic knowledge of the use of smartphones
- •Owning a smartphone with internet access and the Android or IOS system
- •At least mild depressive, anxiety or stress symptoms
- •Exclusion Criteria
- •Diagnosed with any serious and persistent mental disorder
Exclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Anxiety
Time Frame: T1 (pre), T2 (6-week)
Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) - The measure has 21 items arranged in 3 dimensions (depression, anxiety and stress) through a Likert scale ranging from "did not apply to me at all" (0) to "applied to me very much, or most of the time" (3). The sum of the items provides a score between 0 and 21 regarding anxiety. The higher the score, the greater the anxiety.
Change in Stress
Time Frame: T1 (pre), T2 (6-week)
Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) - The measure has 21 items arranged in 3 dimensions (depression, anxiety and stress) through a Likert scale ranging from "did not apply to me at all" (0) to "applied to me very much, or most of the time" (3). The sum of the items provides a score between 0 and 21 regarding stress. The higher the score, the greater the stress.
Change in Depression
Time Frame: T1 (pre) to T2 (6-week)
Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) - The measure has 21 items arranged in 3 dimensions (depression, anxiety and stress) through a Likert scale ranging from "did not apply to me at all" (0) to "applied to me very much, or most of the time" (3). The sum of the items provides a score between 0 and 21 regarding depression. The higher the score, the greater the depression.
Change in Self-Compassion
Time Frame: T1 (pre), T2 (6-week)
Self-Compassion Scale - The measure has 26 items scored on a Likert scale, ranging from "almost never" (1) to "almost always" (5). The higher the score, the greater the sel-compassion.
Change in Compassion
Time Frame: T1 (pre), T2 (6-week)
Santa Clara Brief Compassion Scale - The measure has 5 items arranged on a Likert scale, ranging from "not at all true for me" (1) to "very true for me" (7). The higher the score, the greater the compassion.
Change in Emotional Well-Being
Time Frame: T1 (pre), T2 (6-week)
Well-being Index (WHO-5) - It is a generic measure that assesses emotional well-being. It has 5 items, ranging from "at no time" (0) to "all the time" (5) on a Likert scale, providing a score that varies between 0 and 25. The higher the score, the greater the emotional well-being.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in Optimism(T1 (pre), T2 (6-week))
- Change in Life Satisfaction(T1 (pre), T2 (6-week))
- Change in Hope(T1 (pre), T2 (6-week))
- Change in Emotional Self-Regulation(T1 (pre), T2 (6-week))
- Change in Positive Affect(T1 (pre), T2 (6-week))
- Change in Negative Affect(T1 (pre), T2 (6-week))