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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT06383715

Congitive Behavioral Therapy Workshop for Content Moderators

Professional content moderators play a critical role in preventing Internet users from being exposed to more sensitive content. However, recent literature has shown that this work places content moderators at increased risk for several psychological outcomes, including intrusive thoughts and vicarious stress trauma. This pilot study will assess the acceptability and feasibility of a brief (4-session) cognitive-behavioral workshop to reduce these risks.

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Key information

Conditions

Work-Related Condition Work-Related Stress Disorder

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

MEGA cloud services

Salamanca, 37002, Spain

About this study

The growing amount of user-generated content is forcing companies to hire more and more content moderators (CMs). There is ample empirical evidence that exposure to the trauma of others at work affects well-being and mental health , and research focused on CMs suggests that they experience similar effects as other professionals. This includes an increased risk of developing syndromes such as secondary posttraumatic stress, vicarious trauma, and burnout. Recent literature, although limited, indicates that CMs are already using coping strategies such as creating boundaries between work and personal life, although they expressed a preference for individual therapy with specialized professionals. However, this initial work points to the need for technology companies to develop prevention programs based on preventing exposure to traumatic content (.

Therefore, a CBT workshop consisting of four 90-minute group sessions was designed specifically to prevent work-related consequences in a small sample of content moderators. The workshop will have a cognitive-behavioral orientation, which has been shown to be more effective for posttraumatic symptoms. Psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, job satisfaction, and coping strategies will be measured before and after the intervention to assess the feasibility of the workshop.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Actively work as a professional content moderator, for at least 6 months.

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of a psychotic or personality disorder as defined by DSM-5 criteria.
  • Receive another psychological treatment during the time of the study.

Treatment and study plan

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Workshop for Content Moderators

Behavioral

This 4-session group workshop is based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It consists of four sessions:

  • Presentation. Scientific evidence of psychological consequences on content moderatos. Psicoeducation on the effects of vicarious trauma exposure.
  • Presentation of the cognitive model. Identification/operationalization of thoughts. Discussion of possible irrational thoughts.
  • Psychoeducation of emotions and their adaptive function. Behavioral strategies of emotions: exposure therapies and behavioral activation.
  • The role of social support. Strategies for appropriate work and sleep hygiene. Strategies for maintaining gains. Farewell.

Primary outcomes

  1. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10)

    Time frame: Week 0, week 4, and week 12

    It is a simple measure of psychological distress. The K10 scale involves 10 questions about emotional states each with a five-level response scale. The measure can be used as a brief screen to identify levels of distress. The tool can be given to patients to complete, or alternatively the questions can be read to the patient by the practitioner.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Work Satisfaction Scale, JobStat'73

    Time frame: Week 0, week 4, and week 12

    It is made up of 5 questions related to their satisfaction with the job, possible continuity in it and whether they would recommend it to others.

  2. Coping Mechanisms Scale

    Time frame: Week 0, week 4, and week 12

    It measures how the participant cope with stress, collecting data from 16 strategies.

  3. PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C)

    Time frame: Week 0, week 4, and week 12

    The PCL-C includes 17 items assessing a variety of symp- tomatic responses to stress, and respondents self-reported the extent to which they were bothered by these symptoms, within the past month, on a scale from 1 (Not at all) to 5 (Extremely).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidad Europea de Valencia

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Acceptability and Feasibility of a Congitive Behavioral Therapy Workshop for Content Moderators: a Pilot Study

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Apr 25, 2024
Registry last updated
Dec 9, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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