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
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.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
181
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.
Philipps University Marburg
Marburg, Hesse, Germany
Change in perceived stress ratings
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
Time frame: Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later)
Change in perceived (stress) burden ratings (resulting from perceived stress)
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.
Time frame: Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later)
Change in emotions (PANAS)
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.
Time frame: Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later)
Change in state optimism ratings
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
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Time frame: Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later)
Change in state self-compassion
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
Time frame: Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later)
Satisfaction ratings with the respective intervention
e.g. "I was satisfied with the intervention" or "I feel like I had a benefit from this intervention"
Time frame: Only Post-Assessment (end of the experiment; approx. 45-60 minutes after start of the experiment)
Ratings directly assessing the perceived change due to the intervention
e.g. "The intervention reduced my perceived stress", "The intervention increased my feeling of being able to influence things"
Time frame: Only Post-Assessment (end of the experiment; approx. 45-60 minutes after start of the experiment)
Change in perceived self-efficacy (expectations)
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.
Time frame: Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later)
Change in anxiety and depression state (STADI)
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.
Time frame: Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later)