Emotional Competence and Compassion Training

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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In this study several different face-to-face workshops about emotional competence and compassion are scientifically evaluated with psychometric questionnaires and heart rate variability measuring.

Detailed Description
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Stress and stress related diseases are a huge health burden in modern societies. Psycho-emotional stress plays a key role in stress regulation. Therefore this study aims to investigate the effects of online-courses addressing emotion regulation. For this aim several different workshops about emotional competence and compassion are scientifically evaluated with psychometric questionnaires and heart rate variability measuring. The workshops are planned by the trainers and people register on their own initiative. The seminars are either single workshops over three days or a yearly program consisting of three three-day-workshops. They consist of lectures and exercises about the character of the different feelings, about the characteristics of emotions and teach practices on how to dael with difficult emotions.

Official Title
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Scientific Evaluation of Trainings for Emotional Competence, Compassion and Relationship Competences

Conditions
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Emotional Intelligence

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: The Power of Feelings
* Behavioral: The Emotional Backpack


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 18-85 years participation in one of the included courses e-mail address Exclusion Criteria: participation in another study no verbal communication (german) possible dementia or another disease that limits cognitive abilities

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 85 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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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Single Workshop 'The Emotional Backpack'<br>Subjects of this group are participating in one single workshop over three days. | Behavioral: The Emotional Backpack<br>* One workshop of three days teach about how to deal with emotions, which are defined as unfelt feelings of the past. They show a way to work in couples with a form of emotional disclosure that helps process emotions that have been overwhelming in the past. Smaller lectures give the participants an overview about the themes. Through exercises the participants can make experiences p.e. about each of the feelings. Another element is the sharing in dyads or small groups about actual feelings to practice emotional disclosure and to build a culture of openness and compassion.<br>|
| Year Program 'The Power of Feelings'<br>Subjects of this group are participating in three workshops of over 3 days each in a continuing group over nine months. They are animated to deal with the content inbetween the workshops through biweekly e-mails and to exchange in couples. | Behavioral: The Power of Feelings<br>* Three workshops of three days each teach about the five basic feelings rage, sadness, fear, shame and joy and talk about the powerful and destructive qualities they can have. In addition to that they are about how to deal with emotions, which are defined as unfelt feelings of the past. Smaller lectures give the participants an overview about the themes. Through exercises the participants can make experiences p.e. about each of the feelings. Another element is the sharing in dyads or small groups about actual feelings to practice emotional disclosure and to build a culture of openness and compassion.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Self-Report Measure for the Assessment of Emotion Regulation Skills (SEK-27) | Assessing full scale, range 0-108, higher score meaning a better outcome | Assessing change from baseline to 3 months and 6 months after baseline in single workshops and baseline to 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after baseline in the yearly program | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Saarbrücken Personality Questionnaire (SPF) based on the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) | Assessing full scale, range 16-80, higher score meaning a better outcome | Assessing change from baseline to 3 months and 6 months after baseline in single workshops and baseline to 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after baseline in the yearly program | 
| The World Health Organisation- Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) | assessing full scale, range 0-100, higher score meaning a better outcome | Assessing change from baseline to 3 months and 6 months after baseline in single workshops and baseline to 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after baseline in the yearly program | 
| General Self-efficacy Short Scale (ASKU) | Assessing full scale, range 3-15, higher score meaning a better outcome | Assessing change from baseline to 3 months and 6 months after baseline in single workshops and baseline to 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after baseline in the yearly program | 
| Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) | Assessing full scale, range 0-42, lower score meaning a better outcome | Assessing change from baseline to 3 months and 6 months after baseline in single workshops and baseline to 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after baseline in the yearly program | 
| Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) | Assessing full scale, range 15-90, higher score meaning a better outcome | Assessing change from baseline to 3 months and 6 months after baseline in single workshops and baseline to 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after baseline in the yearly program | 
| Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) | Assessing full scale, range 0-40, lower score meaning a better outcome | Assessing change from baseline to 3 months and 6 months after baseline in single workshops and baseline to 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after baseline in the yearly program | 
| Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (MOS SF-36) | Assessing full scale, range 0-100, higher score meaning a better outcome | Assessing change from baseline to 3 months and 6 months after baseline in single workshops and baseline to 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after baseline in the yearly program | 
| Heart Rate Variability (HRV) | 24h measuring | Assessing change from baseline to 3 and 6 months after baseline in the yearly program | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Stress, Emotion