The COVID-19 pandemic increased psychological burdens in Germany, especially among teachers who have reported higher levels of emotional exhaustion and burnout compared to the general population. Even before the pandemic, teachers found their work highly stressful. Mindfulness- and compassion-based interventions, as well as socio-emotional learning interventions, show promise in combating burnout among educators. Despite increased research, partner-based Dyads have not been explored in schools. Recent studies suggest these social practice formats are more effective than solo mindfulness techniques in reducing loneliness, and social stress, and enhancing social connections and resilience. Additionally, the impact of these interventions on student, classroom, collegium, and system levels remains under-researched. This study extends the CovSocial project and the ReSource project, which showed the effectiveness of partner-based dyadic mental training on stress reduction, resilience, and social cohesion. The first goal is to test a 10-week online empathy-compassion (EmCo) Dyad training program, inspired by the Affect Dyad from the ReSource project and the online coaching Dyad from the CovSocial project, incorporating empathic and compassionate listening. The second goal is to evaluate the Dyad intervention's effects in an educational context, focusing on teachers' mental health, social capacities, social networks, and classroom climate, measured across: 1) mental health and resilience, 2) social emotions, 3) social interaction, 4) communication and listening skills, and 5) classroom climate. The third aim is to develop and validate the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA) and the Egocentric Social Network Analysis Paradigm (e-SNAP), using autonomic measures and voice recordings to assess teachers' emotional states. The final aim is to investigate the cognitive and affective mechanisms driving changes in teachers' mental health, resilience, and social-emotional competencies.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a dramatic rise in psychological burden and strain within Germany. German teachers, specifically, have reported increased emotional exhaustion and professional burnout, at levels exceeding those of the general population. The rise in teacher burnout is particularly alarming given that teachers already perceived their work as stressful and reported high rates of burnout prior to the pandemic. Mindfulness- and compassion-based interventions as well as socio-emotional learning interventions offer a promising approach to combating burnout among education professionals. Despite an increase in research efforts to alleviate burnout through such mental training intervention programs, partner-based Dyads have never been investigated in the school context. Yet, recent research suggests that these social practice formats are more efficient than classic mindfulness techniques practiced alone when it comes to reducing loneliness and social stress, boosting social connections and cohesion as well as resilience. Interestingly, the underlying mechanisms of these different types of interventions seem to be also rather different ones. Finally, the extent to which these interventions promote desired outcomes at the student, classroom, collegium, and system levels remains poorly known in the empirical literature. This study is an extension of the CovSocial project and the preceding ReSource project, which provided evidence of the effectiveness of partner-based dyadic mental training interventions on stress reduction, psychological resilience, and social cohesion across multiple traits and state-level indicators of biopsychosocial health. The first main goal of the proposed study is to test the efficacy of an adapted 10-week online empathy-compassion (EmCo) Dyad training program which both the original Affect Dyad inspired developed originally in the ReSource project and the 10-weeks online coaching Dyad program later developed in the context of the CovSocial project, and now includes an important differentiation between empathic and compassionate listening based on previous research in the lab. A second main goal is to test the effects of such Dyad intervention in the educational context with a focus on boosting teachers' mental health and social capacities as well as their social networks and the classroom climate. The intervention effects will be measured in several families of outcomes which we will call domains: 1) mental health and resilience, 2) social emotions, 3) social interaction, 4) communication and listening skills, and 5) classroom climate. The third aim is to develop and validate two novel tasks, the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA) and the Egocentric Social Network Analysis Paradigm (e-SNAP). In exploring the use of both autonomic measures as well as voice recordings as indicators of the emotional states of the teachers in the classroom, we hope to provide more objective markers of training-induced changes in the teachers' social connections, emotional well-being, self-regulation skills, as well as communication competency during real-time class instruction. The final aim is to assess underlying cognitive and affective mechanisms driving the observed changes in teachers' mental health, resilience, and social-emotional competencies. In a multi-factorial mixed (between- and within-subjects) design, the type of intervention will serve as the between-subjects variable with two levels: (a) the EmCo dyad training and (b) a waitlist control group. The within-subject effects from pre- to post-intervention will be evaluated at three time points in the intervention group at the pre-test, mid-test (after 5 weeks), and post-test (after an additional 5 weeks). In the waitlist control group, the variables of interest will be assessed at three time points including pre-test, mid-test and post-test. In a second step, the waitlist control group will also undergo a 5-week period of empathy-based socio-emotional intervention, followed by another 5-week period of compassion-based socio-emotional intervention, using the same protocol and testing as above (sequential intervention approach). If recruitment barriers prevent the implementation of a waitlist control group, only the within-subject pre-post effects as well as all individual difference hypotheses will be tested. The EmCo Dyad intervention implemented here is based on the daily Affect Dyad practice, and a 10-week program consisting of 10 teacher-guided 1.5-hour online coaching sessions to deepen the daily practice inspired by the CovSocial project. In comparison to the 10-week online training developed in the CovSocial project, an additional component has been added, namely the difference between empathic and compassionate listening. This Dyad program was designed to enhance a) interoceptive body awareness, b) acceptance of challenging emotions, c) resilience through gratitude and compassion, d) non-judgmental empathic and compassionate listening, e) social connectedness and f) common humanity. The topic of each weekly coaching session is organized according to these goals. The weekly coaching session is conducted by a skilled expert trainer with groups of about 20 teachers, following a consistent structure. These sessions include sharing personal experiences and difficulties with the Dyad practice in the group, and teacher-lead content presentations to enhance understanding of key aspects of the practice. Participants also say good-bye to their Dyad partner of the past week and get to know their new Dyad partner for the coming week in break-out rooms. Participants in the EmCo training course complete a daily practice, six times per week, and weekly 1.5-hour online coaching sessions for 10 weeks via a study app. The daily practice involves a 13-minute structured contemplative dialogue. It starts with a minute of silence, followed by partners taking turns speaking about one difficult situation (2.5 mins) and one situation that incurred gratitude (2.5 mins) in the past 24 hours. While the participants elaborate on each situation, they are asked to focus on the recall of the bodily experience of the emotions generated during the situation. The listener is asked to contemplate his/her partner's experiences in a non-judgmental manner. The session concludes with a final minute of silence. Participants are randomly assigned new partners each week.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
200
The goal of the EmCo dyad practice is to enhance coping with difficult emotions, empathic and compassionate listening, social sharing, acceptance, and gratitude. It involves a daily partner-based practice and weekly coaching sessions with expert teachers.
Social NeuroScience Lab, Max Planck, Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Change from baseline Depression Anxiety Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21) scores at 5 and 10 weeks
A scale measuring depression, anxiety, and stress (Henry \& Crawford, 2005; Nilges \& Essau, 2021). The scale ranges from 0 to 3, where higher scores indicate more depression, anxiety, and stress.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline), after the first 5 weeks of training (Mid-Test), and then after the second 5 weeks of training (Post-Test)
Change from baseline Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey (MBI-ES) scores at 5 and 10 weeks
A scale measuring burnout (Maslach \& Jackson, 1981; Schwarzer et al., 2000). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more burnout.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline), after the first 5 weeks of training (Mid-Test), and then after the second 5 weeks of training (Post-Test)
Change from baseline Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) score at 5 and 10 weeks
A scale measuring psychological resilience (Connor \& Davidson, 2003; Sarubin et al., 2015). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more resilience.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline), after the first 5 weeks of training (Mid-Test), and then after the second 5 weeks of training (Post-Test)
Change from baseline Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scale for Self and Others (SOCS) scores at 10 weeks
A scale measuring self-compassion (SOCS-S) and compassion for others (SOCS-O; Gu et al., 2020). The scale ranges from 1 to5, where higher scores indicate more compassion.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline), at week 5 (after empathic listening training) and then again at week 10 (after compassionate listening training)
Change from baseline Active Listening Attitude Scale (ALAS) scores at 5 and 10 weeks
A scale measuring active listening (Mishima et al., 2000). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where, higher scores indicate more active listening.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline), after the first 5 weeks of training (Mid-Test), and then after the second 5 weeks of training (Post-Test)
Change from baseline Socio-Affective Video Task (SoVT) scores at 5 and 10 weeks
This task assesses behavioral empathy and compassion using emotional video clips (Kanske et al., 2015; Klimecki et al., 2013; Valk et al., 2016). Higher scores indicate more empathy or more compassion.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline), at week 5 (after empathic listening training), and then again at week 10 (after compassionate listening training)
Change from baseline Egocentric Social Network Analysis Paradigm (e-SNAP) scores at 5 and 10 weeks
In this task, teacher-reported perceptions of their classroom and workplace networks are used to assess the frequency and pleasantness of interactions, as well as relationships within the network. Higher scores indicate more (a) Teacher-perceived interaction frequency (with pupils and teachers), (b) Teacher-perceived network density (% of total ties / all possible ties) (of the classroom, and of work colleagues), (c) Teacher-perceived interaction pleasantness ratio (pupil-pupil and teacher-teacher).
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline), after the first 5 weeks of training (Mid-Test), and then after the second 5 weeks of training (Post-Test)
Change from baseline Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) functioning at 10 weeks: Physiological Resting Baseline - electrocardiogram [ECG]
Resting assessment of autonomic physiology. Participants sit quietly with eyes closed and no specific task is given. Autonomic activity will be measured with PLUX Biosignals sensors including a 3-point ECG sensor attached to the chest. Resting autonomic physiology data will be analyzed with PLUX OpenSignals software to assess Heart Rate Variability (HRV).
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention time points, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) functioning at 10 weeks: Physiological Resting Baseline - electrodermal activity [EDA]
Resting assessment of autonomic physiology. Participants sit quietly with eyes closed and no specific task is given. Autonomic activity will be measured with PLUX Biosignals sensors including a 2-point EDA sensor attached to the index and middle fingers of the non-dominant hand. Resting autonomic physiology data will be analyzed with PLUX OpenSignals software to assess Skin Conductance Response (SCR)
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention time points, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) functioning at 10 weeks: Physiological Resting Baseline - inductive respiration
Resting assessment of autonomic physiology. Participants sit quietly with eyes closed and no specific task is given. Autonomic activity will be measured with PLUX Biosignals sensors including an inductive respiration adjustable chest strap. Resting autonomic physiology data will be analyzed with PLUX OpenSignals software to assess Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) and breathing cycle amplitude and frequency
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention time points, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) regulation at 10 weeks: Heart Rate Variability
Phasic assessment of autonomic physiology as participants complete a semi-structured lesson plan in classrooms. Participants watch a series of short clips from Inside Out with their students. These clips have emotional (positive and negative) content. After watching the clips participants facilitate a class discussion encouraging students to consider the function of various emotions and self-regulation strategies for managing difficult emotional experiences. Following the discussion, participants are asked to sit quietly while students complete self-report surveys. Phasic autonomic physiology data will be analyzed with PLUX OpenSignals software to assess HRV and RSA (3-point ECG attached to the chest)
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention time points, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) regulation at 10 weeks: Skin Conductance
Phasic assessment of autonomic physiology as participants complete a semi-structured lesson plan in classrooms. Participants watch a series of short clips from Inside Out with their students. These clips have emotional (positive and negative) content. After watching the clips participants facilitate a class discussion encouraging students to consider the function of various emotions and self-regulation strategies for managing difficult emotional experiences. Following the discussion, participants are asked to sit quietly while students complete self-report surveys. Phasic autonomic physiology data will be analyzed with PLUX OpenSignals software to assess SCR (2-point EDA attached to the non-dominant hand)
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention time points, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) regulation at 10 weeks: inductive respiration
Phasic assessment of autonomic physiology as participants complete a semi-structured lesson plan in classrooms. Participants watch a series of short clips from Inside Out with their students. These clips have emotional (positive and negative) content. After watching the clips participants facilitate a class discussion encouraging students to consider the function of various emotions and self-regulation strategies for managing difficult emotional experiences. Following the discussion, participants are asked to sit quietly while students complete self-report surveys. Phasic autonomic physiology data will be analyzed with PLUX OpenSignals software to assess inductive Respiration (adjustable chest strap)
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention time points, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Vocalized Emotional Expressions at 10 weeks - prosodic features
Acoustic assessment of vocalized emotions as participants complete a semi-structured lesson plan in their classrooms. Participants record their own voices for 15 minutes as they encourage students' engagement during the classroom discussion component of the test lesson. Two sets of simultaneous voice recordings will be collected on participants' phones as well as a research phone. A lapel microphone connected to the research phone will be attached to the participants' collars. Participants' own phones will be placed in a phone case lanyard necklace worn around the neck. Vocalized emotions will be analyzed with audEERING devAIce software to assess prosodic features (e.g., pitch, voice quality \[jitter and shimmer\])
Time frame: the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Vocalized Emotional Expressions at 10 weeks - affect dimensions
Acoustic assessment of vocalized emotions as participants complete a semi-structured lesson plan in their classrooms. Participants record their own voices for 15 minutes as they encourage students' engagement during the classroom discussion component of the test lesson. Two sets of simultaneous voice recordings will be collected on participants' phones as well as a research phone. A lapel microphone connected to the research phone will be attached to the participants' collars. Participants' own phones will be placed in a phone case lanyard necklace worn around the neck. Vocalized emotions will be analyzed with audEERING devAIce software to assess affect dimensions (e.g., activation \[arousal\], valence, and dominance)
Time frame: the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Vocalized Communication Behaviors at 10 weeks - sensitivity in communication
Acoustic assessment of vocalized communication behaviors as participants complete a semi-structured lesson plan in their classrooms. Participants record their own voice for 15 minutes as they encourage students' engagement during the classroom discussion component of the test lesson. Two sets of simultaneous voice recordings will be collected on participants' personal phones as well as a research phone. A lapel microphone connected to the research phone will be attached to participants' collar. Participants' own phone will be placed in a phone case lanyard necklace worn around the neck. Vocalized communication behaviors will be analyzed with audEERING devAIce software to assess tone, rate, and dominance scores indicate sensitivity in communication. Lower tone, rate and dominance scores represent higher sensitivity in communication.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoints, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Vocalized Communication Behaviors at 10 weeks - silence
Acoustic assessment of vocalized communication behaviors as participants complete a semi-structured lesson plan in their classrooms. Participants record their own voice for 15 minutes as they encourage students' engagement during the classroom discussion component of the test lesson. Two sets of simultaneous voice recordings will be collected on participants' personal phones as well as a research phone. A lapel microphone connected to the research phone will be attached to participants' collar. Participants' own phone will be placed in a phone case lanyard necklace worn around the neck. Vocalized communication behaviors will be analyzed with audEERING devAIce software to assess the teacher's silence and background sounds indicate the teacher's listening. Higher rates of teacher's silence represent higher listening.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoints, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline listening at 10 weeks
Self-generated items measure active listening during classroom discussions (Mishima et al., 2000). The scale ranges from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate more active listening.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoints, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Academic Productive Dialogue (APD) scores at 10 weeks
A scale measuring the productivity of a classroom dialog (Gutentag et al., 2022). The scale ranges from 1 to 5. Higher scores mean more engagement and productivity in the dialog.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoints, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Mindfulness in Teaching Scale (MTS) scores at 10 weeks
A scale measuring mindfulness in teaching during the classroom discussion (Frank et al., 2016). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more mindfulness in teaching.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoints, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale (TSES) scores at 10 weeks
A scale measuring teacher self-efficacy when engaging students (Pfitzner-Eden, 2016; Tschannen-Moran \& Hoy, 2001).The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more self-efficacy.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoints, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Affect Grid scores at 10 weeks
A scale measuring emotional state (valence) and arousal (Russell et al., 1989). Higher scores on valence and arousal indicate more positive affect and arousal.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention time points, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Stress levels at 10 weeks
Custom items based on the Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM; Delahaye et al., 2015; Peacock \& Wong, 1990) and the Cognitive Control and Flexibility Questionnaire (CCFQ; Gabrys et al., 2018) measuring stress intensity and feelings of emotional control. The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more intense stress or higher emotional control.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention time points, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention time points, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Custom items based on the Brief-COPE (Carver, 1997; Knoll et al., 2005), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ; Garnefski et al., 2001; Loch et al., 2011) and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS; Albertson et al., 2015; Hupfeld \& Ruffieux, 2011) measuring Coping Strategies (Acceptance and Curiosity, Positive Reinterpretation, Rumination, Self-Blame). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate a higher use of the specified coping strategies.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoints, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline emotional expressions at 10 weeks
Custom items based on an Emotional Labor Strategy Questionnaire (ELSQ; Diefendorff et al., 2005) measure Emotional Expressions (surface acting, emotional dissonance, emotional congruence, emotional authenticity). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more surface acting / emotional dissonance or emotional congruence / emotional authenticity.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoints, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline student-reported Student Personal Perception of Classroom Climate (SPPCC) scores at 10 weeks
A scale measuring classroom climate (Rowe et al., 2010).The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate a better classroom climate. Completed by the pupils.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention time points, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline student-reported Classroom Belonging Scale (CBS) scores at 10 weeks
A scale measuring classroom belonging (Dong Zhao et al., 2019). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more classroom belonging. Completed by the pupils.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention time points, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline classroom discussion climate at 10 weeks
Custom items measuring students' perception of classroom discussion. The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate a better classroom discussion climate. Completed by the pupils.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention time points, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline observer-rated Affect Grid scores at 10 weeks
A scale measuring emotional state (valence) and arousal (Russell et al., 1989). Higher scores on valence and arousal indicate more positive affect and arousal. Completed by independent observers.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention time points, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline observer-rated teacher listening and communication behaviors at 10 weeks
Custom items based on a Psychological Safety Coding Scheme (O'Donovan et al., 2021) measuring teacher listening and communication behaviors. The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more listening and communication skills. Completed by independent observers.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoints, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline observer-rated student engagement & communication behaviors at 10 weeks
Custom items based on a Psychological Safety Coding Scheme (O'Donovan et al., 2021) measuring student engagement and communication. The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more observer-rated student engagement and communication. Completed by independent observers.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention (Baseline) and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoints, in the classroom setting as part of the Teacher Autonomic Voice Assessment (TAVA)
Change from baseline Affect Grid scores at 10 weeks
A scale measuring emotional state (valence) and arousal (Russell et al., 1989). Higher scores on valence and arousal indicate more positive affect and arousal.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention over a two-week period (Baseline), at week 5 (once), and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoint again for two-week
Change from baseline Positive Teaching Practices Scale (PTPS) scores at 10 weeks
A scale measuring positive teaching practices (Baumgartner et al., 2021). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more positive teaching practices.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention over a two-week period (Baseline), at week 5 (once), and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoint again for two-week
Change from baseline Stress levels at 10 weeks
Custom items based on the Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM; Delahaye et al., 2015; Peacock \& Wong, 1990) and the Cognitive Control and Flexibility Questionnaire (CCFQ; Gabrys et al., 2018) measuring stress intensity and feelings of emotional control. The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more intense stress.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention over a two-week period (Baseline), at week 5 (once), and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoint again for two-week
Change from baseline coping strategies at 10 weeks
Custom items based on the Brief-COPE (Carver, 1997; Knoll et al., 2005), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ; Garnefski et al., 2001; Loch et al., 2011) and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS; Albertson et al., 2015; Hupfeld \& Ruffieux, 2011) measuring Coping Strategies (Acceptance and Curiosity, Positive Reinterpretation, Rumination, Self-Blame). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate a higher use of the specified coping strategies.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention over a two-week period (Baseline), at week 5 (once), and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoint again for two-week
Change from baseline Empathy Scale for Teachers (EST) scores at 10 weeks
A scale measuring teacher empathy (Wang et al., 2022). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more empathy
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention over a two-week period (Baseline), at week 5 (once), and then after 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoint again for two-week
Change from baseline Compassionate Love Scale (Close Others Version) scores at 10 weeks
A scale measuring teacher compassion (Sprecher \& Fehr, 2005). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more compassion.
Time frame: Assessed at pre-intervention over a two-week period (Baseline), at week 5 (once), and then after a 10-week intervention period at post-intervention timepoint again for two-week
Cognitive Control and Flexibility Questionnaire (CCFQ) (explanatory mechanism)
A scale measuring cognitive control over emotions (Gabrys et al., 2018). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where lower scores indicate more cognitive control over emotions. 3 items from the Cognitive Control over Emotion subscale.
Time frame: Assessed weekly during the course of 10 weeks
Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) scores - Self-Regulation (explanatory mechanisms)
A scale measuring levels of interoceptive awareness (Mehling et al., 2012; Mehling \& Bornemann, 2012). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more interoceptive awareness. 3 items from the Self-Regulation subscale.
Time frame: Assessed weekly during the course of 10 weeks
Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale (PHLMS) (explanatory mechanism)
A scale measuring two subdimensions of mindfulness (Cardaciotto et al., 2008). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate higher awareness or acceptance. 3 items each from the following two subscales: Awareness and Acceptance.
Time frame: Assessed weekly during the course of 10 weeks
Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale Short Form (DERS-SF) (explanatory mechanism)
A scale measuring difficulties in using emotion regulation strategies (Gutzweiler \& In-Albon, 2018; Kaufman et al., 2016). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more difficulties in emotion regulation. 3 items from the Non-acceptance subscale.
Time frame: Assessed weekly during the course of 10 weeks
Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) (explanatory mechanism)
A scale measuring different facets of social emotions, including personal distress and empathic concern (Davis, 1980b, 1980a). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate higher personal distress or empathic concern. 3 items each from the following two subscales: Personal Distress and Empathic Concern.
Time frame: Assessed weekly during the course of 10 weeks
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Listening
Custom items measuring listening quality. The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate better listening. 5 items.
Time frame: Assessed weekly during the course of 10 weeks
Gratitude Questionnaire-6 (GQ-6) (explanatory mechanism)
A scale measuring gratitude (Hudecek et al., 2021; McCullough et al., 2002). The scale ranges from 1 to 7, where higher scores indicate more gratitude. 3 items.
Time frame: Assessed weekly during the course of 10 weeks
Coping strategies (explanatory mechanism)
Custom items based on the Brief-COPE (Carver, 1997; Knoll et al., 2005), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ; Garnefski et al., 2001; Loch et al., 2011) and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS; Albertson et al., 2015; Hupfeld \& Ruffieux, 2011) measuring Coping Strategies (Acceptance and Curiosity, Positive Reinterpretation, Rumination, Self-Blame). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate a higher use of the specified coping strategies. 5 items.
Time frame: Assessed weekly during the course of 10 weeks
Affect Grid (explanatory mechanism)
Assessment of emotional state (valence) and arousal (Russell et al., 1989). Higher scores on valence and arousal indicate more positive affect and arousal.
Time frame: Assessed weekly during the course of 10 weeks of intervention only in intervention group
Social connectedness - Inclusion of Other in Self Scale (explanatory mechanism)
Assessment of how connected participant felt to the dyad partner (pre- and post-dyad exercise). The scale ranges from 1 to 10, where higher scores indicate more social connectedness (Aron et al., 1992; Kinnunen \& Windmann, 2013).
Time frame: Assessed for 10 weeks during intervention period, twice a week, only in the intervention group, prior to and after the daily exercise
Personal Self-Disclosure with Partner
Custom item assessing Personal Self-Disclosure with Partner (only post-dyad exercise). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more self-disclosure.
Time frame: Assessed for 10 weeks during intervention period, twice a week, only in the intervention group, after the daily exercise
Emotional Authenticity
Custom item assessing Emotional Authenticity (only post-dyad exercise) adapted from the Emotional Labor Strategy Questionnaire (ELSQ; Diefendorff et al., 2005). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate higher emotional authenticity.
Time frame: Assessed for 10 weeks during intervention period, twice a week, only in the intervention group, after the daily exercise
Listening (emotional resonance)
Assessment of listening (2 custom items; only post-dyad exercise). The scale ranges from -10 (for negative mood) to 10 (for positive mood), where Higher changes in affect in accordance with the dyad practice indicate higher resonance.
Time frame: Assessed for 10 weeks during intervention period, twice a week, only in the intervention group, after the daily exercise
Listening engagement
Assessment of listening engagement (1 custom item; only post-dyad exercise). The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate more listening engagement.
Time frame: Assessed for 10 weeks during intervention period, twice a week, only in the intervention group, after the daily exercise
Qualitative Empathic Listening Diary
Two custom qualitative questions asking about how it felt to engage in empathic listening during the dyad.
Time frame: Assessed once during intervention period, at week 5, only in the intervention group, after the daily exercise
Qualitative Compassionate Listening diary
Two custom qualitative questions asking about how it felt to engage in compassionate listening during the dyad.
Time frame: Assessed once at the end of the intervention period, at week 10, only in the intervention group, after the daily exercise