Feasibility and Efficacy of a Brief Digital Self-efficacy Training

Overview

The study investigates the effects of a digital, scalable self-efficacy training of repeated recall of self-efficacy memories on mental health outcomes, such as self-efficacy, anxiety, stress, hopelessness, and other mental health outcomes. A total of 94 students with elevated stress levels (≤ 13 on the Perceived Stress Scale) will be recruited and randomly assigned to training and control group. Individuals will either engage in the self-efficacy training app combined with Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) for 1 week (training group) or in EMA only for 1 week (control group). Baseline and post assessments will measure changes in self-efficacy, anxiety, stress, hopelessness, and other mental health outcomes.

Full Title of Study: “Feasibility and Efficacy of a Brief Digital Self-efficacy Training in University Students With Self-reported Elevated Stress: A Randomized Controlled Trial”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Prevention
    • Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: November 9, 2020

Detailed Description

Self-efficacy is associated with positive mental health outcomes and has been proposed as a putative contributor to therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of mental health problems. It can be enhanced through experimental inductions and the recall of autobiographical mastery experiences, which have mostly been conducted in person and in the laboratory until today. The study will investigate effects of a digital, scalable self-efficacy training of repeated recall of self-efficacy memories on mental health outcomes, such as self-efficacy, anxiety, stress, hopelessness, and other mental health outcomes. The study will recruit 94 students with elevated stress levels (≤ 13 on the Perceived Stress Scale) and randomly assigned them to training and control group. Individuals will either engage in the self-efficacy training app combined with Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) for 1 week (training group) or in EMA only for 1 week (control group). Baseline and post assessments will measure changes in self-efficacy, anxiety, stress, hopelessness, and other mental health outcomes.

Interventions

  • Behavioral: Self-efficacy App
    • The training starts with a psychoeducational video and instructions to define two autobiographical self-efficacy The individuals will then receive three self-efficacy trainings per day based on their autobiographical memories and combined with a slow breathing exercise. Additionally, they will receive 10 daily EMA questionnaires on mood, social contacts, and virtual context.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Experimental: Experimental: Self-efficacy training (App)
    • This group will receive a digital one week self-efficacy training with three training sessions per day and EMA (10 per day).
  • No Intervention: Control
    • This group will receive EMA questionnaires for one week (10 per day).

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • General self-efficacy
    • Time Frame: change from baseline to 1 day post intervention; time frame: 1 week
    • The General Self-Efficacy Scale (Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995; Tipton & Worthington, 1984) will measure the general self-efficacy.

Secondary Measures

  • Perceived stress
    • Time Frame: change from screening to 1 day post intervention; time frame: 1 week
    • The Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein, 1983; Klein et al., 2016) will measure perceived stress.
  • Positive and negative affect
    • Time Frame: The Positive and Negative Affect Scale (Krohne, Egloff, Kohlmann, & Tausch, 1996; Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988) will measure positive and negative affect.
    • change from baseline to 1 day post intervention; time frame: 1 week
  • Hope
    • Time Frame: change from baseline to 1 day post intervention; time frame: 1 week
    • The Trait Hope Scale (Krause, 2002; Snyder et al., 1991) will measure hope.
  • Depression
    • Time Frame: The Beck Depression Inventory-II (Beck, Steer, Ball, & Ranieri, 1996; Kuhner, Burger, Keller, & Hautzinger, 2007) will measure depression.
    • change from baseline to 1 day post intervention; time frame: 1 week
  • Anxiety
    • Time Frame: change from baseline to 1 day post intervention; time frame: 1 week
    • State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Laux, Glanzmann, Schaffner, & Spielberger, 1981; Spielberger, Gorsuch, Lushene, Gagg, & Jacobs, 1983) will measure state and trait anxiety.
  • Hopelessness
    • Time Frame: change from baseline to 1 day post intervention; time frame: 1 week
    • The Beck Hopelessness Scale (Beck, Weissman, Lester, & Trexler, 1974; Kliem, Lohmann, Mossle, & Brahler, 2018) will measure hopelessness.

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • being enrolled at a Swiss university – aged between 18 and 29 years – experiencing at least moderate stress (score of ≥13 on the Perceived Stress Scale – owning a smartphone – speaking fluent German Exclusion Criteria:

-current psychiatric disorder

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: 29 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • University of Zurich
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Sponsor

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