Clinical Research Directory

Effects of a Nurse-Led Self-Compassion and Kindness Program on Compassion and Healthy Peer Relationships in Adolescents

The goal of this experimental study is to learn if the Nurse-Led Self-Compassion and Kindness Program works to improve self-compassion, compassion toward peers, and peer relationships among adolescents. The main hypotheses to be tested in the study are: Post-intervention self-compassion scale scores will be significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control group. Post-intervention compassion scale scores will be significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control group. Post-intervention peer relationships scale scores will be significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control group. Follow-up self-compassion scale scores will be significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control group. Follow-up compassion scale scores will be significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control group. Follow-up peer relationships scale scores will be significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control group. Researchers will compare the experimental group (receiving the program) to a control group to see if the Nurse-Led Self-Compassion and Kindness Program is effective in enhancing compassion and peer relationships in adolescents. Participants will: Participate in the Nurse-Led Self-Compassion and Kindness Program 1 day a week for 6 weeks Complete the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up test questionnaires

Self-Compassion and Quality of Life in Nursing Students With Premenstrual Syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is one of the most common menstrual disorders among women of reproductive age and is characterized by recurrent physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. These symptoms may adversely affect academic performance, daily functioning, interpersonal relationships, and quality of life. Although previous studies have demonstrated that greater premenstrual symptom severity is associated with poorer quality of life, the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. Self-compassion, defined as a compassionate and nonjudgmental attitude toward oneself during times of difficulty, has been identified as a protective psychological factor associated with better emotional well-being and adaptive coping. However, its mediating role in the relationship between premenstrual symptom severity and premenstrual syndrome-specific quality of life has not been adequately investigated. This cross-sectional study aims to examine the association between premenstrual symptom severity and premenstrual syndrome-specific quality of life and to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion among nursing students who meet the study criteria for PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome Scale score ≥110).

Virtual Reality for Enhancing Self Compassion and Reducing Burnout Among Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers in high-demand clinical settings are at high risk for burnout and secondary traumatic stress due to repeated exposure to patient trauma, which can compromise well-being and quality of care. Compassion-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CF-CBT) can reduce stress and enhance self-compassion, but traditional delivery is time- and resource-intensive. This project evaluates the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)-enhanced CF-CBT specifically adapted for healthcare providers experiencing vicarious trauma. Grounded in Neff's self-compassion framework (emphasizing self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness) the VR intervention provides 8 immersive environments where participants can practice compassion-focused skills, engage in procedural learning, and regulate emotional responses in real time. The study will be conducted at UC San Diego Health using a two-arm randomized design comparing VR-enhanced CF-CBT with self-guided compassion-focused CBT/mindfulness exercises delivered without VR. Participants will complete 8 brief VR interventional sessions (approximately 6-10 minutes each) over 4-6 weeks. Outcomes include self-compassion, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, measured using validated instruments. Feasibility and acceptability will be evaluated through recruitment, retention, session completion, engagement, and participant feedback. Findings will provide preliminary evidence for VR-enhanced compassion-focused interventions as a scalable and accessible approach to supporting healthcare providers' emotional well-being in demanding clinical environments, and will inform future cultural adaptation and implementation in low-resource and conflict-affected healthcare settings such as those in post-war zones.

A Study of a Mental Fitness Intervention for Anesthesiology Resident Wellbeing and Self-Compassion

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if app-based wellness programs can help improve wellbeing and self-compassion for medical residents. This is a pilot study, which is done on a small group of people to learn if a larger study would be useful. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Are app-based wellness interventions feasible and acceptable in a high-stress population like medical residents? 2. Can app-based wellness programs improve wellbeing and self-compassion in medical residents? Researchers will compare the app-based wellness program to a time- and attention-matched control program. Participants will: * Complete online questionnaires at the start of the study and again after completion of the wellness program * Be assigned by chance (like a coin toss) to one of two different app-based programs, and will participate in the assigned program for 6 weeks. Both programs will involve weekly lessons and brief, daily exercises. Engagement with these exercises will not be mandatory but highly encouraged.