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The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the momentary effects of a one-session intervention (compassion-based, logic-based, or placebo control) on individuals with high or low trait self-criticism. The main questions it aims to answer are:
After a momentary shame induction, will a compassion-based intervention and a logic-based intervention both be more beneficial than a placebo control condition in terms of therapeutic outcomes?
Will the compassion-based intervention most effectively increase soothing affect, state self-compassion, and state self-reassurance?
Will the effects of these two interventions (1) differ as a function of the individual's trait self-criticism, and (2) will this be due to differing indirect effects of the intervention on safe/soothed feelings based on trait self-criticism?
Participants will first complete a set of baseline measures. Two to seven days later, they will be randomly assigned to one of three study conditions (i.e., compassion-based, logic-based, placebo control) after a brief shame induction. Participants will be asked to complete a set of questionnaires both before and after the shame induction as well as post-intervention.
This research will help us understand how best to intervene with the shame and self-criticism.
This clinical trial consists of a two-part online study. Part 1 of this study collects baseline measures and screen out ineligible participants. Part 2 of this study will compare the momentary effects of a brief (10-15 minute) one-session online intervention (compassion-based, logic-based, or placebo control) after a shame induction. Participants assigned to the compassion-based intervention will be asked to engage in a self-compassion exercise, where they will be asked to write about and experience their feelings while connecting to their compassionate self. Participants assigned to the logic-based intervention will be asked to engage in a logic-based exercise that was adapted from a thought record often completed during CBT treatment. Participants assigned to the placebo control condition will be asked to listen to a portion of an audio recording of "The Hobbit." All conditions will involve audio recordings, and all participants will be asked to re-read what they wrote about their shame, engage in a writing task, and then re-read what they wrote during the intervention writing task.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compassion-based intervention | Experimental | Participants assigned to this intervention will be asked to engage in one brief (10-15 minute) online compassion-focused exercise, where they will be asked to connect to their inner compassionate self. They will be asked to stay connected to that feeling while rereading what they wrote about their feelings of shame and imagining it was someone else who wrote it. Participants will then be asked to write a compassionate response to themselves. Participants will then be asked to reread this response while remaining connected to their compassionate self. |
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| Logic-based intervention | Experimental | Participants assigned to this intervention will be asked to engage in one brief (10-15 minute) online logic-based exercise that was adapted from a thought record (Greenberger & Padesky, 1995), which is often completed during cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) treatment. Participants will be asked to reread what they wrote about their feelings of shame and chose a thought central to their shame to use for this exercise. Participants will be asked to generate evidence for and against their chosen thought, and then generate a more balanced thought. After the exercise, participants will be asked to reread their newly generated more balanced thought. |
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| Placebo control condition | Active Comparator | Participants assigned to this condition will be asked to listen to a portion of an audio recording of "The Hobbit" (Tolkien, 2009) and then re-read what they wrote about their feelings of shame. They will then be asked to write a reflection about the thoughts and feelings arising from doing so. They will then be asked to re-read what they wrote in this reflection. |
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compassion-based intervention | Other | Participants assigned to this intervention will be asked to engage in one brief compassion-focused exercise, where they will be asked to be asked to connect to their inner compassionate self. They will be asked to stay connected to that feeling while rereading what they wrote about their feelings of shame and imagining it was someone else who wrote it. Participants will then be asked to write a compassionate response to themselves. Participants will then be asked to reread this response while remaining connected to their compassionate self. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| State Shame and Guilt Scale (shame subscale) | Self-report questionnaire with 5 items on a 5-point Likert scale (scored 1-5). Mean scores range from 1-5, with higher scores indicating greater momentary feelings of shame. | Immediately pre-shame induction, immediately after the shame induction, immediately after the intervention |
| Momentary self-criticism | Self-report questionnaire with 5 items on a 5-point Likert scale (scored 1-5). Mean scores range from 1-5, with higher scores indicating greater momentary self-criticism. | Immediately pre-shame induction, immediately after the shame induction, immediately after the intervention |
| Self-Assessment Manikin (Arousal and Pleasure subscales only) | Self-report measure with 1 item assessing arousal and 1 item assessing pleasure, on a pictorial 9-point Likert scale (scores ranging from 1-9). Items are scored individually, and higher scores indicate greater degrees of arousal or pleasure. | Immediately pre-shame induction, immediately after the shame induction, immediately after the intervention |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Soothing affect | This adapted measure consists of the Serenity Subscale of the PANAS-X, the Safe/Warmth Positive Affect Subscale of the Types of Positive Affect Scale, and researcher-generated items). Self-report questionnaire consists of 13 items on a 5-point Likert scale (scored 1-5). Mean scores range from 1-5, with higher scores indicating higher degrees of soothing affect. | Immediately after the intervention |
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Inclusion Criteria for SONA participants:
Inclusion Criteria for Prolific participants:
Exclusion Criteria:
All exclusions will only be made prior to randomization of experimental conditions in Part 2 to abide by Consort guidelines for randomized controlled trials.
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Allison C. Kelly, PhD | Associate Professor | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Waterloo | Waterloo | Ontario | N2L3G1 | Canada |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Greenberger, D., & Padesky, C. A. (1995). Mind over mood: A cognitive therapy treatment manual for clients. Guilford Press. | ||
| Background | Tolkien, J. R. R. (2009). The Hobbit (E-book ed.). HarperCollins. |
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1/3 of the study participants (anticipated n=116) will be randomly assigned to the self-compassion intervention group, 1/3 of the participants (anticipated n=116) will be placed into the logic-based intervention group, and 1/3 of the study participants (anticipated n=116) will be placed into the control group.
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The participant will not know prior to their study participation that there are three different study conditions, and they will not find out which condition they were randomized to until the end of their study participation.
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| Logic-based intervention | Other | Participants assigned to this intervention will be asked to engage in one brief (10-15 minute) online logic-based exercise that was adapted from a CBT thought record. Participants will be asked to reread what they wrote about their feelings of shame and chose a thought central to their shame to use for this exercise. Participants will be asked to generate evidence for and against their chosen thought, and then generate a more balanced thought. After the exercise, participants will be asked to reread their newly generated more balanced thought. |
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| Placebo control condition | Other | Participants assigned to this intervention will be asked to listen to an audio recording of "The Hobbit" and then re-read what they wrote about their feelings of shame. They will then be asked to write a reflection about the thoughts and feelings arising from doing so. They will then be asked to re-read what they wrote in this reflection. |
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| State self-compassion assessed via Compassionate Engagement and Action Scale (adapted self-compassion subscale) | Self-report measure consisting of 13 items on a 10-point Likert scale (scored 1-10), with higher scores indicating greater state self-compassion. | Immediately after the intervention |
| State self-compassion assessed via State Self-Compassion Scale (adapted) | Self-report measure consisting of 6 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (scored from 1-5). Mean scores range from 1-5, with higher scores indicating greater state self-compassion. | Immediately after the intervention |
| Self-reported reassurance (researcher-generated) | Self-report measure consisting of 4 items assessed on a 5-point Likert scale (scored 1-5). Mean scores range from 1-5, with higher scores indicating greater self-reassurance. | Immediately after the intervention |