Micro-interventions Aiming to Optimize Expectations or Self-compassion to Improve Well-being/Reduce Stress and Their Differential Effects
- Conditions
- no Specific Clincal Condition Required (Focus is on Persons Who Are Feeling Stressed or Want to Improve Their Wellbeing)
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Thinking, writing and imagining
- Registration Number
- NCT04461548
- Lead Sponsor
- Philipps University Marburg Medical Center
- Brief Summary
The study's aim is to determine whether brief interventions (micro-interventions) aiming to optimize expectations or enhancing feelings of self-compassion are able to improve well-being/reduce perceived stress in comparison to an active control group in an online-study
- Detailed Description
In this study we use a pre-post-test design to compare the effects of the (classic) best possible self intervention vs. the best possible self intervention (including ways on how to reach the imagined best possible future) vs. a self-compassion intervention vs. an active control group. We are interested in the differential effects and examine several moderators.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 181
- fluent in German language
- access to a computer/tablet/smartphone with audio output/headphones
- not willing to take part in an online-intervention (duration: 60 minutes)
- no access to a computer/tablet/smartphone with audio output/headphones
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Experimental group 3: Self-compassion Thinking, writing and imagining Participants are asked to think and write about a self-compassion exercise and to imagine this content subsequently. Experimental group 2: Best Possible Self + next steps Thinking, writing and imagining Participants are asked to think and write about their best possible future self and what the next steps could be to reach that best possible future. Subsequently, participants are asked to imagine this positive future. Experimental group 1: Best Possible Self Thinking, writing and imagining Participants are asked to think and write about their best possible future self and to imagine this positive future subsequently. Active control group Thinking, writing and imagining Participants are asked to think and write about a neutral task that is comparable to the experimental groups.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in perceived stress ratings Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later) Participants are asked to rate how stressed they feel at the moment at two time points (baseline and the intervention) on a questionnaire (VAS: item ranges from 0 (not stressed at all) - 100 (very stressed). Change scores are calculated (post- minus pre-scores; pre-scores will be used as a covariate).
e.g.Lesage, F.-X., Berjot, S., \& Deschamps, F. (2012). Clinical stress assessment using a visual ana-logue scale. Occupational Medicine, 62(8), 600-605. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqs140
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in emotions (PANAS) Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later) Change scores are calculated for positive and negative sum scores (post- minus pre-scores; pre-scores will be used as a covariate).
Krohne, H.W., Egloff, B., Kohlmann, C.W., \& Tausch, A. (1996). Experiments with a German version of the "Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Diagnostica, 42, 139-156.Change in state optimism ratings Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later) State Optimism measure (SOM), 7 items (each item 1(strongly disagree)-5(strongly agree)). Change scores are calculated for positive and negative sum scores (post- minus pre-scores; pre-scores will be used as a covariate). Millstein, R. A., Chung, W. J., Hoeppner, B. B., Boehm, J. K., Legler, S. R., Mastromauro, C. A., \& Huffman, J. C. (2019). Development of the State Optimism Measure. General hospital psychiatry, 58, 83-93
Change in state self-compassion Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later) Change in state self-compassion (SCS-state), 16 items (each item 1(strongly disagree) - 5 (strongly agree)). Change scores are calculated (post- minus pre-scores; pre-scores will be used as a covariate).
Breines, J. G., \& Chen, S. (2013). Activating the inner caregiver: The role of support-giving schemas in increasing state self-compassion. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 49(1), 58-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2012.07.015Satisfaction ratings with the respective intervention Only Post-Assessment (end of the experiment; approx. 45-60 minutes after start of the experiment) e.g. "I was satisfied with the intervention" or "I feel like I had a benefit from this intervention"
Change in perceived self-efficacy (expectations) Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later) Change in perceived self-efficacy (SWE), 10 items (each item (1(not at all) - 4(exactly)). Change scores are calculated (post- minus pre-scores; pre-scores will be used as a covariate).
SchwarzerR\& Jerusalem M. Generalized Self---Efficacy scale. In J. Weinman, S. Wright, \&M. Johnston, Measures in health psychology: A user's portfolio. Causal andcontrol beliefs (pp. 35---37). 1995. Windsor, England: NFER---NELSON.Ratings directly assessing the perceived change due to the intervention Only Post-Assessment (end of the experiment; approx. 45-60 minutes after start of the experiment) e.g. "The intervention reduced my perceived stress", "The intervention increased my feeling of being able to influence things"
Change in perceived (stress) burden ratings (resulting from perceived stress) Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later) Participants are asked to rate how burdened they feel at the moment at two time points (baseline and the intervention) due to the experienced stress on a questionnaire (VAS: item ranges from 0 (not at all) - 100 (very much). Change scores are calculated (post- minus pre-scores; pre-scores will be used as a covariate). Indirect/opposite measure of well-being.
Change in anxiety and depression state (STADI) Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later) Change in anxiety and depression state (STADI), 20 items (each item 1(strongly disagree) - 4 (strongly agree)). Change scores are calculated (post- minus pre-scores; pre-scores will be used as a covariate).
Laux, L., Hock, M., Bergner-Köther, R., Hodapp, V., \& Renner, K. H. (2013). The State-Trait-Anxiety-Depression-Inventory-Manual. Göttingen, Germany: Hogrefe.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Philipps University Marburg
🇩🇪Marburg, Hessen, Germany