Behavioral Activation Plus Savoring for University Students

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The current investigation aims to examine whether a brief, two-session, virtual behavioral activation plus savoring intervention will increase daily positive emotion in university students.

Detailed Description
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Experiences of positive emotions are often unchanged following standard psychotherapy. To address this, the current investigation aims to enhance traditional brief behavioral activation with savoring, an emotion regulation strategy specifically targeting positive emotion, or affect, for university students endorsing low levels of the symptom. Individuals will be randomized to either a two-session behavioral activation plus savoring intervention or two sessions of empathic listening. Daily levels of positive emotions will be assessed throughout the study and for one week prior to and completing the intervention.

Official Title
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A Randomized Controlled Trial of Behavioral Activation Plus Savoring for University Students With Positive Valence Dysregulation

Conditions
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Mood, Anhedonia, Depression

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Behavioral Activation plus Savoring
* Behavioral: Empathic Listening


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: University student Own a smartphone Positive affect score less than 32 on the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Short Form (PANAS-SF)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Behavioral Activation plus Savoring<br>Individuals in this intervention will complete two sessions of behavioral activation, where they will be provided psychoeducation on behavioral models of mood, schedule activities, and discuss barriers to completion. Additionally, they will practice savoring as a cognitive strategy to increase positive emotions with a study therapist. | Behavioral: Behavioral Activation plus Savoring<br>* Individuals in this intervention will complete two sessions of behavioral activation, where they will be provided psychoeducation on behavioral models of mood, schedule activities, and discuss barriers to completion. Additionally, they will practice savoring as a cognitive strategy to increase positive emotions with a study therapist.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Empathic Listening<br>Individuals in the active control condition will complete two sessions of reflecting on tracking their mood and empathic listening with a study therapist. | Behavioral: Empathic Listening<br>* Individuals in the active control condition will complete two sessions of reflecting on tracking their mood and empathic listening with a study therapist.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Positive Emotions: Modified Differential Emotions Scale (mDES; Fredrickson et al., 2003) | Positive mood, as measured by the mDES, will be collected two times a day. Participants will be asked to rate their level of positive mood in the moment. Positive mood will be collected on a daily basis throughout the study and change in reported positive emotions will be assessed. | Change from first session to post-treatment (14 days) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) | Change in reported symptoms of positive and negative affect following the intervention | Change from baseline to post-treatment (21 days) | 
| Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) | Change in self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress following the intervention | Change from baseline to post-treatment (21 days) |