Positive Emotions Training (PoET) as an Online Intervention to Improve Mental Health: a Feasibility Study

NCT05737251 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: PoET101
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 174
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Positive psychology interventions are known to have an impact on mental health as well as on a number of beneficial characteristics like optimism, gratitude and self-efficacy. The new developed Positive Emotions Training (PoET) is one of the first holistic training programs covering eleven positive psychology constructs. The goal of this study was to test PoET's feasibility in the general population and to assess possible effects on positive and negative mental health factors. Additionally, possible effects on optimism, gratitude, happiness, resilience, and self-efficacy were examined. Hypotheses:

1. 1.It was hypothesized that participants receiving PoET would show a significant increase in positive mental health factors one month after the second training day.
2. 2.It was expected to find a significant decrease in depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms one month after the second training day.
3. 3.It was hypothesized that participants in a control group would not show any significant changes in this regard.

Conditions

Positive Emotions; Mental Health

Keywords

positive emotions; online intervention; positive psychology

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Changes in Positive Mental Health Scale (3 assessment points)

  9 items, 4-point-scale from 0 ("I do not agree ") to 3 ("I agree"), assessing emotional and psychological aspects of wellbeing, higher scores reflect better positive mental health

  before 1st and 2nd training session, 30 days after 2nd training session

• Changes in Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (3 assessment points)

  21 items, 4-point-scale from 0 ("did not apply to me at all") to 3 ("applied to me very much or most of the time"), assessing negative emotional states, higher scores reflect more symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress

  before 1st and 2nd training session, 30 days after 2nd training session

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Changes in Life Orientation Test-revised (3 assessment points)

  before 1st and 2nd training session, 30 days after 2nd training session

• Changes in Gratitude Questionnaire (3 assessment points)

  before 1st and 2nd training session, 30 days after 2nd training session

• Changes in Satisfaction With Life Scale (3 assessment points)

  before 1st and 2nd training session, 30 days after 2nd training session

• Changes in New General Self-Efficacy Scale (3 assessment points)

  before 1st and 2nd training session, 30 days after 2nd training session

• Changes in Brief Resilience Scale (3 assessment points)

  before 1st and 2nd training session, 30 days after 2nd training session

Study Arms (2)

PoET Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received two sessions of PoET and filled out the questionnaires.

Behavioral: PoET

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants only filled out the questionnaires.

Interventions

PoET BEHAVIORAL

PoET consists of two online-sessions, each 3.5 hours within groups of 30 people. The following lessons regarding positive psychology constructs were conducted (including short information on each construct and specific exercises): happiness, hope, humour, optimism, gratitude, self-efficacy, flow, meaningfulness, forgiveness, spirituality and resilience.

PoET Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• legal age (18)
• ability to use Zoom and all associated technology

You may not qualify if:

• none

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ruhr University of Bochum: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ruhr-University Bochum

Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, 44801, Germany

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Niemann L, von Gruner C, Zhang XC, Margraf J, Totzeck C. Positive Emotions Training (PoET) as an online intervention to improve mental health: a feasibility study. BMC Public Health. 2023 Aug 14;23(1):1543. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16424-x.

  PMID: 37580658 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior

Study Officials

• Christina Totzeck, Dr.

  Ruhr-University Bochum

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Clinical Psychology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 9, 2023
• First Posted: February 21, 2023
• Study Start: March 18, 2022
• Primary Completion: June 20, 2022
• Study Completion: June 20, 2022
• Last Updated: February 21, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

DE (1)