None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this research project is to investigate the feasibility, usefulness and applicability of a digitally delivered low intensity psycho-educational tool to increase the self-esteem of participants. The psycho-education will be delivered by an embodied conversational agent, known as HAFSE (Helper Agent For Self Esteem). Students often suffer from low self-esteem and are thus a suitable population. HAFSE is intended to help students improve their SE, but we also anticipate that students with even average levels of self-reports SE scores may still benefit from the conversations. As a feasibility study we also seek to assess the usability of the tool and the user's experience. Thus, we do not screen participants based on their level of self esteem and intend to examine whether baseline levels of SE influence the results. We will measure participant self-esteem and self-efficacy before and after interaction with HAFSE.
Interventions
Following completion of the baseline measures, participants will engage with a conversational agent (CA) called HAFSE (Helper Agent for Self Esteem). Engagement will involve the agent introducing themselves and then asking participants questions which encourage self-reflection and intention. HAFSE will interact with participants by speaking (digital voice) and text (her conversation will also appear as text). During the conversation, participants will be able to select answers from a pre-defined
Following completion of the baseline measures, participants will engage with a conversational agent (CA) called HAFSE (Helper Agent for Self Esteem). Engagement will involve the agent introducing themselves and then asking participants questions which encourage self-reflection and intention. HAFSE will interact with participants by speaking (digital voice) and text (her conversation will also appear as text). During the conversation, participants will be able to select answers from a pre-defined set of options which will allow them to direct the conversation. The expected interaction time is about 15 minutes. There will be only one brief online interaction. There are three conversations discussing: 1. How to change 3 common negative thinking styles (1, all-or-nothing thinking, 2 Magnifying or exaggerating negative experiences, 3. Minimising positives); 2. The value of keeping a Positive Self Diary. 3. Positive self-affirmations. Participants will access the conversational agent via a website link accessible within the online survey. We will capture responses during the conversation and will ask if they found the strategies helpful but we will not know if participants follow the advice. In the study, all participants will do conversation 1, but they will get to choose between doing conversation 2 and 3. We will ask them if they would like to access later the conversation they did not choose.
Sponsors
Macquarie University
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
The consent form also requires that participants are: -Not currently receiving any professional psychotherapy (from a psychologist, counsellor, psychiatrist etc). -Not currently experiencing severe levels of anxiety, depression, stress or other mental health problems - Currently a student
Exclusion criteria
DASS-8 (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale) will be used as inclusion criteria for the participants to enter into the study. Participants with severe score in any dimension will not be given access.
Outcome results
None listed