University life is a challenging period. College students are exposed to a large number of stressors such as increased workload, multitasking, new responsibilities, changes in sleep and eating habits, social stressors, financial concerns and future employability, unlimited access to technology, etc. The participation of some of them in unhealthy activities should also be noted. There is sufficient evidence to affirm that high levels of stress cause different alterations in students, such as attention and concentration deficits, difficulties in memorizing and solving problems, low productivity and poor academic performance. Due to this, in addition to the psychological and social impact of said mental health problems, the academic functioning of the students decreases and the dropout rates increase, which represents a problem for themselves and for the institutions. On the other hand, students and future professionals in training run the risk of suffering burnout as a consequence of the chronic stress to which they are subjected, with the consequent negative effects on their future professional practice. The main objective of the present research is to evaluate the efficacy of a six-week compassion program for the reduction of psychological distress in university students compared to an active control condition based on relaxation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
200
Compassion program consists of 6 sessions of 90 minutes/session (15-20 people) Written material and sound recordings will be offered as support elements. The estimated duration of the program is two months
Relaxation program consists of 6 sessions of 90 minutes/session (15-20 people) Written material and sound recordings will be offered as support elements. The estimated duration of the program is two months
Miguel Servet University Hospital
Zaragoza, Spain
Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21)
In the compassion program group
Time frame: Baseline
Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21)
In the relaxation program group
Time frame: Baseline
Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21)
In the compassion condition group
Time frame: Post-treatment 6 weeks from baseline
Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21)
In the relaxation program group
Time frame: Post-treatment 6 weeks from baseline
Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21)
In the compassion condition group
Time frame: Six-months follow-up
Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21)
In the relaxation program group
Time frame: Six-months follow-up
Sociodemographic data Gender, age, marital status, education, occupation, economical level
In the compassion condition group
Time frame: Baseline
Sociodemographic data Gender, age, marital status, education, occupation, economical level
In the relaxation program group
Time frame: Baseline
Positive and negative affect (PANAS)
In the compassion condition group
Time frame: Baseline
Positive and negative affect (PANAS)
In the relaxation program group
Time frame: Baseline
Positive and negative affect (PANAS)
In the compassion condition group
Time frame: Post-treatment 6 weeks from baseline
Positive and negative affect (PANAS)
In the relaxation program group
Time frame: Post-treatment 6 weeks from baseline
Positive and negative affect (PANAS)
In the compassion condition group
Time frame: Six-months follow-up
Positive and negative affect (PANAS)
In the relaxation program group
Time frame: Six-months follow-up
Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ)
In the compassion condition group
Time frame: Baseline
Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ)
In the relaxation program group
Time frame: Baseline
Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ)
In the compassion condition group
Time frame: Post-treatment 6 weeks from baseline
Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ)
In the relaxation program group
Time frame: Post-treatment 6 weeks from baseline
Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ)
In the compassion condition group
Time frame: Six-months follow-up
Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ)
In the relaxation program group
Time frame: Six-months follow-up
Maslach Burnout Inventory Student Survey (MBI-SS)
In the compassion condition group
Time frame: Baseline
Maslach Burnout Inventory Student Survey (MBI-SS)
In the relaxation program group
Time frame: Baseline
Maslach Burnout Inventory Student Survey (MBI-SS)
In the compassion condition group
Time frame: Post-treatment 6 weeks from baseline
Maslach Burnout Inventory Student Survey (MBI-SS)
In the relaxation program group
Time frame: Post-treatment 6 weeks from baseline
Maslach Burnout Inventory Student Survey (MBI-SS)
In the compassion condition group
Time frame: Six-months follow-up
Maslach Burnout Inventory Student Survey (MBI-SS)
In the relaxation program group
Time frame: Six-months follow-up
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