Psychopathology
Conditions
Keywords
Self-Compassion, Single-Session Intervention, Transdiagnostic, Intervention, Habits, Habit Formation, Micropractice, Contemplative Micropractice, Contemplative Practice, Self-Compassionate Touch, Compassion
Brief summary
In the present study, the investigators will conduct a confirmatory efficacy trial to test whether improving practice automaticity (i.e., habit formation) of self-compassionate touch improves outcomes in the predicted direction. Adults (n=440, including 20% for attrition) will be randomly assigned to: (1) the self-compassionate touch intervention plus habit formation tools (SCT+HABITS) versus (2) the self-compassionate touch intervention alone (SCT). The investigators will conduct assessments at baseline, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up. The SCT+HABITS condition will be used to evaluate whether providing habit formation tools results in superior effects to SCT. The intervention will be delivered entirely online.
Detailed description
Specific Aim 1: Evaluate whether SCT+HABITS shows more practice frequency and practice automaticity from baseline to 3-month, and to 6-month follow-up compared to the SCT. Hypothesis 1. The SCT+HABITS group will show greater increases in practice frequency and practice automaticity than SCT from baseline to 3-month, and to 6-month follow-up. Specific Aim 2: Determine whether SCT+HABITS, relative to SCT, will experience increased self-compassion and self-compassion automaticity, and reduced stress and psychopathology. Hypothesis 2. SCT+HABITS will promote greater increases in self-compassion and self-compassion automaticity, and greater reductions in stress and psychopathology from baseline to 3-month, to 6-month follow-up. Specific Aim 3: Assess whether greater baseline to 3-month follow-up increases in practice automaticity mediate the association between SCT+HABITS and baseline to 6-month follow-up increases in (a) self-compassion and (b) self-compassion automaticity, as well as reductions in (c) stress and (d) psychopathology. Hypothesis 3. Greater baseline to 3-month follow-up increases in practice automaticity will mediate the association between the SCT+HABITS group and baseline to 6-month follow-up increases in (a) self-compassion and (b) self-compassion automaticity, as well as reductions in (c) stress and (d) psychopathology. Exploratory Aim: Evaluate the barriers, facilitators, and acceptability of SCT+HABITS and SCT alone. This aim will be addressed via qualitative analyses to characterize barriers and facilitators to habit formation, and the proportion of participants in each condition (SCT+HABITS and SCT alone) who noted each type of barrier and facilitator. Participants will self-report on acceptability and feasibility via questionnaire. Then, the investigators will examine whether SCT+HABITS and SCT alone will meet or exceed the established criteria for acceptability and feasibility.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSelf-Compassionate Touch Intervention
Participants will be taught the micropractice (\<20-second/day personal practice) via video recording.
BEHAVIORALHabit Formation Tools
Participants will receive evidence-based tools for promoting habit-formation.
Sponsors
Mind and Life Institute, Hadley, Massachusetts
The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Masking description
Study participants will not be made aware that there are two experimental conditions. All will be told that they are receiving the intervention.
Intervention model description
Participants will be randomized to the SCT or SCT+HABITS using the randomizer elements in Qualtrics.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* 18 years of age or older. * English language proficiency. * Able and willing to give informed consent. * Resides in the United States of America
Exclusion criteria
* Does not have email address or access to email. * Does not personally own a smartphone device * Not able/willing to participate in and/or complete the baseline assessments
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Practice Frequency | Change from baseline to 3-month follow-up, and to 6-month followup | Number of times practiced self-compassion exercise per week since last assessment. 1 item. Higher frequency indicates a better outcome. |
| Practice Automaticity (Practice Self-Report Behavioral Automaticity Index [SRBAI]) | Change from baseline to 3-month follow-up, and to 6-month follow-up. | 4 items, 1-9 scale. Higher scores indicate a better outcome. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Compassion Automaticity (Self-Compassion Self-Report Behavioral Automaticity Index [SRBAI]) | Change from baseline to 3-month follow-up, and to 6-month followup. | 20 items. 1-9 scale. Higher scores indicate a better outcome. |
| Psychopathology (DSM-5 Cross-Cutting Measure [DSM-XC]) | Change from baseline to 3-month follow-up, and to 6-month followup | 22 items (suicidality item Q11 removed). 5-point scale (0=none or not at all; 1=slight or rare, less than a day or two; 2=mild or several days; 3=moderate or more than half the days; and 4=severe or nearly every day). |
| Perceived Stress (Perceived-Stress Scale [PSS-10]) | Change from baseline to 3-month follow-up, and to 6-month followup | 10 items, 5 point response scale (from 0 = Never to 4 = Very Often). Lower scores indicate a better outcome. Scoring: Reverse score (e.g., 0 = 4, 1 = 3, 2 = 2, 3 = 1 & 4 = 0) items 4, 5, 7, & 8 and then summing across all scale items. |
| Self-Compassion (Sussex-Oxford Compassion for the Self Scale [SOCS-S]) | Change from baseline to 3-month follow-up, and to 6-month followup | 20-items, 5-point response scale. Scores can range from 20 to 100 (Higher score means higher compassion for self). Sub-scale items included. |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Barriers and Facilitators | Assessed at 6-month followup | The investigators will explore first-person experience of using the practice by asking open-ended free-response questions. The investigators will develop a coding system of the barriers and facilitators to forming the habit of practicing SCT daily. |
| Acceptability and Feasibility (Program Feedback Scale [PFS]) | Assessed at 6-month followup | 7 Items. 5-point scale (1=really disagree; 5=totally agree) |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed