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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04461548

Micro-interventions Aiming to Optimize Expectations or Self-compassion to Improve Well-being/Reduce Stress and Their Differential Effects

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

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Key information

Conditions

no Specific Clincal Condition Required (Focus is on Persons Who Are Feeling Stressed or Want to Improve Their Wellbeing)

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Philipps University Marburg

Marburg, Hesse, 35032, Germany

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • fluent in German language
  • access to a computer/tablet/smartphone with audio output/headphones

Exclusion criteria

  • not willing to take part in an online-intervention (duration: 60 minutes)
  • no access to a computer/tablet/smartphone with audio output/headphones

Treatment and study plan

Thinking, writing and imagining

Behavioral

All participants are asked to take some time to think and write about the content of the respective intervention group. After the writing exercise (approx. 15-20 min) participants are asked to imagine that content for about 5 minutes.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in perceived stress ratings

    Time frame: 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 outcomes

  1. Change in perceived (stress) burden ratings (resulting from perceived stress)

    Time frame: 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.

  2. Change in emotions (PANAS)

    Time frame: 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.

  3. Change in state optimism ratings

    Time frame: 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

  4. Change in state self-compassion

    Time frame: 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.2012.07.015

  5. Satisfaction ratings with the respective intervention

    Time frame: 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"

  6. Ratings directly assessing the perceived change due to the intervention

    Time frame: 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"

  7. Change in perceived self-efficacy (expectations)

    Time frame: 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.

  8. Change in anxiety and depression state (STADI)

    Time frame: 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.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Philipps University Marburg

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Micro-interventions Aiming to Optimize Expectations or Self-compassiong and Their Differential Effects

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Jul 8, 2020
Registry last updated
Aug 7, 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.