Clinical Research Directory

Self-Compassion, Self-Efficacy, and Health Outcomes in Older Adults

This cross-sectional observational study aims to examine the relationship between self-compassion, self-efficacy, postural awareness, pain, quality of life, and health-promoting lifestyle behaviors in adults aged 65 years and older. Data will be collected using validated self-report questionnaires administered online. The findings are expected to contribute to a better understanding of psychological factors associated with physical and behavioral health outcomes in older adults.

Compassion Strikes Back

Research has shown that LVAD patients and their caregivers typically experience increased mental health concerns and decreased quality of life following LVAD implantation and hospital discharge. The purpose of this study is to explore how to improve quality of life for LVAD patients and their caregivers in the initial transition from hospital to home after LVAD implantation. Over the course of the study, participants will complete 2 surveys: one when participants are in the hospital and one at a 2-month post-hospital follow-up appointment with the participants' cardiologist. Participants may be contacted if there is data missing from surveys. Participants may also be provided with information on improving mental health in the form of handouts or a brief meeting with a psychology provider.

RISE for Nurse Preceptors

The purpose of this study is to determine whether RISE for Nurse Preceptors has a significant impact on nurse preceptors' burnout, resilience, insight, self-compassion, and empowerment, as well as mental well-being, in their personal lives and their working environment.

Developing Resilience in Transgender and Nonbinary Individuals - Exploring the Impact of Social Challenges in the Metaverse

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effectiveness of conducting a support group in the Metaverse designed to develop and/or improve resilience in gender diverse people. By exploring the impact of different social challenges in a virtual environment, the main question it aims to answer is whether this approach on conducting support group sessions with gender diverse people will strengthen their resilience and associated abilities (self-compassion) compared to a control group and a waitlist.

Mindfulness and Compassion Program for the Improvement of Emotional and Behavioral Problems, Academic Performance and School Climate in Students in the Last Cycle of Primary Education.

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a Mindfulness and Compassion program to improve emotional and behavioral problems, academic performance and school climate of students in the last cycle of Primary Education. Participants will be randomly assigned to the Cuida2 program or to an active control group practicing relaxation. The different variables studied will be evaluated before and after the intervention, and at a three months follow-up. These evaluations will be carried out by the students and their families. In addition, a qualitative exploration will be carried out at the end of the programs, also including the teachers' perceptions.

Comparison of Two Nutrition-Based Interventions on Physician Well-being

Several studies have shown that self-valuation (also known as self-compassion) strongly predicts burnout in physicians. Although effective, existing self-compassion cultivation programs designed for physicians have significant time commitments and, historically, have had low physician participation rates. With occupational burnout among US physicians at an all-time high, there is a compelling and urgent need to identify pragmatic approaches to address low levels of self-valuation in physicians. This study aims to test the impact of a brief mindset intervention that frames daily food choices as an opportunity to demonstrate self-kindness on self-valuation and burnout in physicians over 6 weeks. Instilling a mindset shift that enables physicians to practice self-valuation as part of their existing, daily routine amidst extreme time pressures is a pragmatic and potentially powerful vehicle to promote self-valuation for physicians.

Nature for Body Image

Nature exposure has been found to be particularly beneficial for body image, as recent studies have identified a positive association between time spent in nature and positive body image. Positive body image, defined as the ability to accept and respect one's body, has been linked to greater life satisfaction and engagement in healthy behaviors. Conversely, negative body image is recognized as a public health concern due to its detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. It has been associated with symptoms of Body Image Disorders (BIDs), including Eating Disorders (EDs) and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). The Nature for Body Image (NBI) project aimed to examine the impact of a structured nature exposure intervention on improving body image among young women aged 18-35 years.

Online Mindful Self-Compassion Training for Medical Students: an Exploratory Feasibility Study

The goal of this clinical trial is to develop and investigate a compassion-based intervention (Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities (SCHC) course) in medical students. The main objectives are: 1. Explore the feasibility of trial processes including recruitment, adherence, retention, and follow-up 2. Explore the experiences of medical students with the Compassion-based intervention, including perceived effects, barriers and facilitators to participation, suggestions for improvement 3. Determine potential effects on burnout, compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, self-compassion, compassion for others, empathy, mindfulness, perceived stress, and emotional regulation. Participants will be asked to take part in a 6-week online Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities course and report changes in levels of burnout, compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, self-compassion, compassion for others, empathy, mindfulness, perceived stress, and emotional regulation from pre- to post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Additionally, participants will be asked to take part in a semi-structured interview to explore their experiences with the course, perceived effects, and suggestions for improvement.

Eastern Principles Acceptance and Commitment Therapy For Injury Prevention Among Nurses and Nursing Aides

This clinical trial will evaluate the effectivness of an Eastern Principles Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention (EPACT) relative to an estabished traditional Western-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention (ACT) and a no treatment control group. The participants for the study will be nurses and nursing aides (NNAs) who work in long-term care settings in the USA and Thailand. The primary dependent variables are work-related injuries, work stress and burnout, wellbeing, musculoskeletal symptoms, time off from work due to injury. High frequency heart rate variability will also be investigated as a predictor of responsiveness to the interventions. The study has three primary aims: 1. To compare the EPACT NNA intervention to an established traditional Western ACT NNA intervention and a no-treatment control group. 2. To identify predictors of ACT NNA and EPACT NNA responsiveness to the interventions and injury likelihood across time. 3. To assess EPACT NNA's feasibility and effectiveness across cultures. USA participants working in Ohio will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: EPACT NNA (n = 80), ACT NNA (n = 80), or a no treatment control group (n = 80). All participants will participate in an assessment session where study questnnaires are completed and a baseline high frequency HRV measurement is collected. Subsequent to the assessment, the EPACT NNA and ACT NNA participants will attend two 2.5 hour sessions spaced one week apart. The control group will have no further in-person meetings with the researchers. One-month after completing the intervention (4 weeks after the baseline assessment) a follow-up survey will be sent to participants for the first follow-up. Three months after baseline, the second follow-up survey will be sent to participants. The surveys assess demographic characteristics, organizational variables, work-related injuries, work stress, and well-being. A second RCT study will be conducted in Thailand comparing EPACT NNA (n = 40) to a no-treatment control group (n = 40) among nurses and nursing aides working in healthcare settings. The same outcome measures and procedures will be used. This research aims to develop a culturally-informed, evidence-based intervention that integrates both Western and Eastern mindfulness principles to address the high rates of work-related injuries among NNAs.

Lifestyle Coaching for Fatigue Mitigation in Emergency Medicine Residents

The purpose of this study is to determine whether personalized lifestyle coaching minimizes the negative impact of circadian disruption on performance and recovery in emergency medicine physician trainees during night shifts.

Focus Group Study on the Feeling Tone Mindfulness Course

This is an academic research study aiming to explore the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of a four-week feeling tone mindfulness course by gathering qualitative feedback from course participants in a focus group format.

Well-being in Students and Teachers Study

The goal of this randomized trial is to test the effectiveness of two universal classroom-based mindfulness social and emotional learning (SEL) programs (one for students and one for teachers) by examining behavioral outcomes on 5th and 6th grade students and their teachers. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What are the singular and combined effects of a mindfulness-based SEL education programs for teachers and their students on the development of students' and their teachers' social, emotional, and cognitive competence, and well-being? * Can mindfulness-based SEL education programs for students and teachers foster the creation of caring, inclusive, equitable, and collaborative classroom contexts? * Can mindfulness-based SEL education programs support the development of students' and teachers' prosocial attitudes, mindsets that positively impact student learning? * Are the effects durable beyond the end of the programs with regard to the singular and combined mindfulness-based SEL interventions? A total of 24 classrooms will be randomized into one of three study conditions: 1. Mindfulness SEL program for Educators only 2. Mindfulness SEL program for Educators and Mindfulness SEL program for Students in combination, and 3. "Business as usual" (comparison groups in which regular classroom SEL curricula is implemented). Data will be obtained via multiple objective and subjective methods (e.g., self- and teacher-reports, peer behavioral assessments) from different sources (e.g., self-, peer-, and teacher-reports). Data will also be collected to monitor implementation of the two programs. To explore the ways in which these two programs impact student, teacher, and classroom outcomes, data will be analyzed to compare students and teachers in the three conditions. In Phase One (year one), the investigators will conduct an experimental "outcome" study to examine the singular and combined effects of the two programs by comparing pre-test and post-test measures across the three conditions. In Phase Two (year two), the investigators will conduct a six-month follow up with those teachers and students who participated in Phase One in order to determine the degree to which the program effects are durable after the program has ended.

The Relationships Between Equanimity, Mindfulness, and Self-Compassion, and Mental Health Outcomes

This is an academic research study aiming to explore the relationships between equanimity, mindfulness, self-compassion, and mental health outcomes, and to examine the reliability and validity of the new measures in Hong Kong.

Effectiveness of Self-Compassion Intervention on Enhancing Self-Compassion and Psychological Well-Being of Children With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

The study aims to investigate the underlying mechanism between Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder traits (AD/HD traits) and psychological well-being through studying the role of perceived criticism, rejection sensitivity, self-compassion and growth mindset. It also aims to explore the effectiveness of self-compassion intervention on enhancing self-compassion and psychological well-being of children with AD/HD in Hong Kong. The study will contribute to the current understanding of the supportive measures for children with AD/HD, and hopefully help to mobilize more resources to preserve children with AD/HD's mental health. The intervention program includes the following components: Participants will be randomly assigned to the self-compassion intervention group or the waitlist control group. The intervention group consists of two parts: children training session and parent group sessions. All children participants will complete a total of 6 training sessions, and each session will last around 90 minutes. Parents of the children participants will also complete a total of 3 group sessions, and each session will last around 90 minutes. To investigate the intervention effectiveness, children will be asked to complete a questionnaire assessing their levels of self-compassion, emotional regulation, as well as psychological well-being in terms of life satisfaction, positive and negative affect. Parents and teachers of participants will also be asked to complete a questionnaire covering children's emotional regulation, positive and negative affect. Questionnaire data collection will be conducted prior to the intervention (i.e., Time 1), immediately after the 6-session student and 3-session parent sessions (i.e., Time 2), and 2 months after the intervention (i.e., Time 3, a 2-month follow up). It takes approximately 20-30 minutes for children and parents to complete their questionnaires. Study Objectives: 1. To investigate the underlying mechanism of the relationship between AD/HD traits and psychological well-being 2. To explore the effectiveness of self-compassion intervention on enhancing self-compassion and psychological well-being of children with AD/HD in Hong Kong Hypotheses: 1. AD/HD traits negatively predicts psychological well-being 2. AD/HD traits positively predicts perceived criticism or rejection sensitivity 3. Perceived criticism or rejective sensitivity negatively predicts psychological well-being 4. Perceived criticism or rejective sensitivity mediates the relationship between AD/HD traits and psychological well-being 5. Self-compassion moderates the relationship between perceived criticism or rejection sensitivity and psychological well-being 6. Growth mindset moderates the relationship between perceived criticism or rejection sensitivity and psychological well-being 7. Children with AD/HD from self-compassion intervention group yield greater improvement in self-compassion, emotional regulation and psychological well-being, than waitlist-control group.