A Positive Activity Intervention to Promote Wellbeing in Romanian Immigrants

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to test the efficacy of an intervention focused on promoting positive emotions (Best Possible Self - BPS) to improve the psychological wellbeing of Romanian immigrants living in Spain. It is hypothesized that the BPS intervention will significantly improve a series of positive mental health outcomes, i.e., optimism, future expectancies, and affect, compared to the Control group.

Detailed Description
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Previous studies have shown that groups of immigrants may face a series of problems unique to the process of immigration, such as working, legal, social, and mental and physical health problems. BPS is a guided imagery exercise that requires participants to envision themselves in the future, achieving desired goals in different areas of their lives. This exercise has shown efficacy improving optimism, future expectancies and positive affect compared to a control condition, in general population. Taking into account the prior literature, the aim of the present study is to carry out a randomized controlled study in order to replicate the findings about the effects of BPS on optimism, mood and affect in an immigrant population. The design employed in this study is similar to the used in other studies.

Official Title
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A Positive Activity Intervention to Promote Optimism and Psychological Wellbeing in Romanian Immigrants

Conditions
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Immigrants

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Best Possible Self
* Behavioral: Daily Activities


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Romanian immigrant in Spain Sign a consent form stating their willingness to participate Exclusion Criteria: Presence of severe physical illness Presence of severe psychological disorder Be currently involved in another psychological treatment

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: Best Possible Self<br>Participants are asked to write and imagine about a future in which they have reached all their goals in four different domains: personal, professional, social and health. The participants are instructed to practice the BPS intervention for a month, 5 minutes/day. | Behavioral: Best Possible Self<br> <br> |
| Placebo Comparator: Daily Activities<br>Participants are asked to think and write about the activities carried out in the last 24 hours. The participants are instructed to practice the Daily Activities exercise for a month, 5 minutes/day. | Behavioral: Daily Activities<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subjective Probability Task | This scale measures positive and negative expectancies about future events. It consists of 20 statements referring to negative expectancies and 10 statements referring to positive expectancies. Participants answer on a 7-point scale (Not at all likely to occur - Extremely likely to occur). Some studies have found an appropriate levels of internal consistency for positive and negative expectancies (α=0.80-0.82 and 0.91, respectively) | 1 month | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Positive and Negative Affect Scale | This measure analyzes the levels of positive (PA) and negative affect (NA). The instrument consists of 20 items, 10 for each level of affect. Participants rate on a 5-point scale (Not at all - Extremely). | 1 month | 
| Beck Depression Inventory II | This is one of the most widely questionnaires used to evaluate severity of depression in pharmacological and psychotherapy trials. The instrument has good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha of 0.76 to 0.95) and test-retest reliability of around 0.8. | 1 month | 
| Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale | OASIS is a brief instrument consisting of 5 items that measure the frequency and severity of anxiety, as well as the level of avoidance and work/school/home and social interference that anxiety produces. | 1 month | 
| Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale |  | 1 month | 
| Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale |  | 1 month | 
| Life Orientation Test | This scale measures positive and negative expectancies about future events. It consists of 20 statements referring to negative expectancies and 10 statements referring to positive expectancies. Participants answer on a 7-point scale (Not at all likely to occur - Extremely likely to occur). Some studies have found an appropriate levels of internal consistency for positive and negative expectancies (α=0.80-0.82 and 0.91, respectively). | 1 month | 
| Hope Scale |  | 1 month | 
| Quality of Life Index | It consists of 10 items that evaluate perceived well-being in different areas (physical, psychological/emotional, occupational functioning, interpersonal functioning, among others) | 1 month | 
| Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being |  | 1 month | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Best Possible Self, Positive Psychology, Romanian Immigrants, Optimism, Future Thinking