Self-efficacy Training to Facilitate Taking Cold Showers

Training Cold Showers: A Randomized Controlled Study

The primary goal of this study is to determine whether a self-efficacy training can increase the probability of taking cold showers regularly over a three-month period. Secondary objectives are to assess effects on physical and mental well-being, sleep quality, skin and hair appearance, perceived illness, and related sickness absences from work.

This study is an extension of our two ongoing studies: Feasibility and effects of taking cold showers: A randomized controlled study (Study ID 2019-00529) and Mindset interventions to facilitate taking cold showers: A randomized controlled study (Study ID 2022-00952), which have been approved by the EKNZ. Our ongoing study closely follows the protocol of a previous and similar study by Buijze and colleagues (2016).

This study extends our ongoing study by including experimental conditions, while retaining the original study procedure, i.e., the same recruitment, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and assessments.

Inclusion criteria

• In good health and between 18 and 65 years of age
• Do not take cold showers on a regular basis

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or lactating women (assessed via self-report)
• Cardiac, pulmonary or any other severe disease (assessed via self-report)