Micro-interventions Aiming to Optimize Expectations or Self-compassion to Improve Well-being/Reduce Stress and Their Differential Effects

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The study's aim is to determine whether brief interventions (micro-interventions) aiming to optimize expectations or enhancing feelings of self-compassion are able to improve well-being/reduce perceived stress in comparison to an active control group in an online-study

Detailed Description
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In this study we use a pre-post-test design to compare the effects of the (classic) best possible self intervention vs. the best possible self intervention (including ways on how to reach the imagined best possible future) vs. a self-compassion intervention vs. an active control group. We are interested in the differential effects and examine several moderators.

Official Title
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Micro-interventions Aiming to Optimize Expectations or Self-compassiong and Their Differential Effects

Conditions
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no Specific Clincal Condition Required (Focus is on Persons Who Are Feeling Stressed or Want to Improve Their Wellbeing)

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Thinking, writing and imagining


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: fluent in German language access to a computer/tablet/smartphone with audio output/headphones Exclusion Criteria: not willing to take part in an online-intervention (duration: 60 minutes) no access to a computer/tablet/smartphone with audio output/headphones

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
Interventional Model Description: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Experimental group 1: Best Possible Self<br>Participants are asked to think and write about their best possible future self and to imagine this positive future subsequently. | Behavioral: Thinking, writing and imagining<br>* All participants are asked to take some time to think and write about the content of the respective intervention group. After the writing exercise (approx. 15-20 min) participants are asked to imagine that content for about 5 minutes.<br>|
| Experimental: Experimental group 2: Best Possible Self + next steps<br>Participants are asked to think and write about their best possible future self and what the next steps could be to reach that best possible future. Subsequently, participants are asked to imagine this positive future. | Behavioral: Thinking, writing and imagining<br>* All participants are asked to take some time to think and write about the content of the respective intervention group. After the writing exercise (approx. 15-20 min) participants are asked to imagine that content for about 5 minutes.<br>|
| Experimental: Experimental group 3: Self-compassion<br>Participants are asked to think and write about a self-compassion exercise and to imagine this content subsequently. | Behavioral: Thinking, writing and imagining<br>* All participants are asked to take some time to think and write about the content of the respective intervention group. After the writing exercise (approx. 15-20 min) participants are asked to imagine that content for about 5 minutes.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Active control group<br>Participants are asked to think and write about a neutral task that is comparable to the experimental groups. | Behavioral: Thinking, writing and imagining<br>* All participants are asked to take some time to think and write about the content of the respective intervention group. After the writing exercise (approx. 15-20 min) participants are asked to imagine that content for about 5 minutes.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in perceived stress ratings | Participants are asked to rate how stressed they feel at the moment at two time points (baseline and the intervention) on a questionnaire (VAS: item ranges from 0 (not stressed at all) - 100 (very stressed). Change scores are calculated (post- minus pre-scores; pre-scores will be used as a covariate). e.g.Lesage, F.-X., Berjot, S., & Deschamps, F. (2012). Clinical stress assessment using a visual ana-logue scale. Occupational Medicine, 62(8), 600-605. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqs140 | Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in perceived (stress) burden ratings (resulting from perceived stress) | Participants are asked to rate how burdened they feel at the moment at two time points (baseline and the intervention) due to the experienced stress on a questionnaire (VAS: item ranges from 0 (not at all) - 100 (very much). Change scores are calculated (post- minus pre-scores; pre-scores will be used as a covariate). Indirect/opposite measure of well-being. | Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later) | 
| Change in emotions (PANAS) | Change scores are calculated for positive and negative sum scores (post- minus pre-scores; pre-scores will be used as a covariate). Krohne, H.W., Egloff, B., Kohlmann, C.W., & Tausch, A. (1996). Experiments with a German version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Diagnostica, 42, 139-156. | Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later) | 
| Change in state optimism ratings | State Optimism measure (SOM), 7 items (each item 1(strongly disagree)-5(strongly agree)). Change scores are calculated for positive and negative sum scores (post- minus pre-scores; pre-scores will be used as a covariate). Millstein, R. A., Chung, W. J., Hoeppner, B. B., Boehm, J. K., Legler, S. R., Mastromauro, C. A., & Huffman, J. C. (2019). Development of the State Optimism Measure. General hospital psychiatry, 58, 83-93 | Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later) | 
| Change in state self-compassion | Change in state self-compassion (SCS-state), 16 items (each item 1(strongly disagree) - 5 (strongly agree)). Change scores are calculated (post- minus pre-scores; pre-scores will be used as a covariate). Breines, J. G., & Chen, S. (2013). Activating the inner caregiver: The role of support-giving schemas in increasing state self-compassion. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 49(1), 58-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2012.07.015 | Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later) | 
| Satisfaction ratings with the respective intervention | e.g. I was satisfied with the intervention or I feel like I had a benefit from this intervention | Only Post-Assessment (end of the experiment; approx. 45-60 minutes after start of the experiment) | 
| Ratings directly assessing the perceived change due to the intervention | e.g. The intervention reduced my perceived stress, The intervention increased my feeling of being able to influence things | Only Post-Assessment (end of the experiment; approx. 45-60 minutes after start of the experiment) | 
| Change in perceived self-efficacy (expectations) | Change in perceived self-efficacy (SWE), 10 items (each item (1(not at all) - 4(exactly)). Change scores are calculated (post- minus pre-scores; pre-scores will be used as a covariate). SchwarzerR& Jerusalem M. Generalized Self---Efficacy scale. In J. Weinman, S. Wright, &M. Johnston, Measures in health psychology: A user's portfolio. Causal andcontrol beliefs (pp. 35---37). 1995. Windsor, England: NFER---NELSON. | Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later) | 
| Change in anxiety and depression state (STADI) | Change in anxiety and depression state (STADI), 20 items (each item 1(strongly disagree) - 4 (strongly agree)). Change scores are calculated (post- minus pre-scores; pre-scores will be used as a covariate). Laux, L., Hock, M., Bergner-Köther, R., Hodapp, V., & Renner, K. H. (2013). The State-Trait-Anxiety-Depression-Inventory-Manual. Göttingen, Germany: Hogrefe. | Change from pre (baseline) to post scores (approx. 30 minutes later) |