Cognitive Restructuring in Managing Breakup Distress and Promoting Posttraumatic Growth Among Malaysian Young Adults

N/ANot Yet RecruitingNCT06359639

Michelle Choong Poh Kin80 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effectiveness of cognitive restructuring in reducing breakup distress and promoting personal growth among Malaysian young adults. Cognitive restructuring is a therapy skill that focuses on changing unhelpful thoughts. The main question it aims to answer is: Are there differences in their breakup distress and personal growth after receiving cognitive restructuring compared to counselling? Participants will receive five online sessions of either cognitive restructuring or counselling. Data on participants' breakup distress and personal growth will be collected before and after completion of sessions. The hypothesis is that cognitive restructuring will reduce breakup distress and increase personal growth more than counselling.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Breakup Distress Posttraumatic Growth

Interventions

Five 50-60-minute videoconferencing sessions of cognitive restructuring based on Mind Over Mood: Second Edition (MOM2) (Greenberger \& Padesky, 2016) and The Clinician's Guide to CBT Using MOM2 (Padesky \& Greenberger, 2019) as guides. The sessions will consist of understanding the cognitive model, filling in Thought Records, and complementary coping strategies of looking for evidence, action planning, and acceptance.

Supportive counsellingBEHAVIORAL

Five 50-60-minute videoconferencing sessions of supportive counselling consisting of psychoeducation on breakup effects, validation of breakup experiences and emotions, introduction to deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, and identification of existing coping strategies.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 30 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Malaysian young adults. * Proficient in English. * Basic technological skill and resources. * Reported ongoing distress due to a breakup that occurred within the past 6 months. * Current single relationship status. Exclusion Criteria: * Consumption of psychiatric medications within past 8 weeks. * Currently receiving other psychological interventions. * Presence of significant psychotic or manic symptoms. * Severe suicide risk.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Breakup distress

Breakup Distress Scale (BDS) (Field et al., 2009) will be used to assess breakup distress. The total score ranges from 16 to 64 with higher scores indicating higher breakup distress.

Time frame: BDS will be administered: 1) before the start of intervention sessions, 2) after 5 weeks of intervention sessions, and 3) 1 month after the participant's 5th (final) intervention session.

Posttraumatic growth

Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) (Tedeschi \& Calhoun, 1996) will be used to assess personal growth after breakup. The total score ranges from 0 to 105 with higher scores indicating higher posttraumatic growth.

Time frame: PTGI will be administered: 1) before the start of intervention sessions, 2) after 5 weeks of intervention sessions, and 3) 1 month after the participant's 5th (final) intervention session.