A Single-Session Intervention Fostering Emotional Nonreactivity

NCT07034027 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: STU00223240
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 550
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel online single-session intervention (SSI) designed to improve emotion regulation abilities in young adults (ages 18-29). The active intervention condition, titled "Project WAVE," uses mindfulness skills training and an emotion exposure to teach participants how to cope with distressing emotions. Project WAVE will be evaluated in comparison with another online activity that controls for nonspecific aspects of single-session interventions.

Conditions

Emotional Dysregulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Emotion Intolerance Beliefs.

  Emotion intolerance beliefs will be measured using the Emotion Avoidance Questionnaire (EAQ) Beliefs subscale, a five-item self-report measure of a participant's beliefs about their inability to tolerate emotions (Taylor et al., 2004). Participants will rate their agreement with each statement reflecting how they feel "right now" on a five-point scale. A higher score indicates greater levels of negative beliefs about their ability to tolerate emotions.

  Data will be collected in both conditions at all time points (pre-intervention, immediate post-intervention, and two-week follow-up).

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Perceived Intervention Utility

  Data will be collected only in Project WAVE and only at immediate post-intervention.

Other Outcomes (2)

• Nonreactivity to Emotions

  Data will be collected in both conditions at pre-intervention and two-week follow-up.

• Program Feedback

  Data will be collected in both conditions only at immediate post-intervention.

Study Arms (2)

Project WAVE (Wise Awareness of Visiting Emotions)

EXPERIMENTAL

The active condition, "Project WAVE," (Wise Awareness of Visiting Emotions) includes 1) an introduction to the program's rationale; 2) psychoeducation about emotion dysregulation, avoidance, and exposure; 3) testimonials from others who describe their experience facing a difficult emotion; 4) an emotion exposure task along with an audio-guided nonreactivity practice; and 5) the creation of a personalized "action plan" usable for continued practice. Project WAVE is designed to take approximately 15-20 minutes.

Behavioral: Project WAVE (Wise Awareness of Visiting Emotions)

Emotionally Neutral Writing Condition

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

The control condition is self-administered and structurally similar to Project WAVE (e.g., includes peer narratives and contains a similar number of writing activities). It is designed to control for non-specific aspects of supportive online activities. The activity involves an emotionally neutral writing task (journaling about daily life events). This control condition is designed to take approximately 10-15 minutes.

Behavioral: Emotionally Neutral Writing Control

Interventions

Project WAVE (Wise Awareness of Visiting Emotions) BEHAVIORAL

Project WAVE is an online, self-directed single-session intervention designed to foster emotional nonreactivity skills in young adults aged 18-29.

Project WAVE (Wise Awareness of Visiting Emotions)

Emotionally Neutral Writing Control BEHAVIORAL

The control condition is an online, self-directed single-session activity that includes an emotionally neutral writing task.

Emotionally Neutral Writing Condition

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 29 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may not qualify if:

• Exit the study prior to condition randomization
• Fail to pass data integrity measures

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Northwestern University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Taylor CT, Laposa JM, Alden LE. Is avoidant personality disorder more than just social avoidance? J Pers Disord. 2004 Dec;18(6):571-94. doi: 10.1521/pedi.18.6.571.54792.

  PMID: 15615668 BACKGROUND

• Schleider JL, Dobias M, Sung J, Mumper E, Mullarkey MC. Acceptability and Utility of an Open-Access, Online Single-Session Intervention Platform for Adolescent Mental Health. JMIR Ment Health. 2020 Jun 30;7(6):e20513. doi: 10.2196/20513.

  PMID: 32602846 BACKGROUND

• Galla BM, Tsukayama E, Park D, Yu A, Duckworth AL. The mindful adolescent: Developmental changes in nonreactivity to inner experiences and its association with emotional well-being. Dev Psychol. 2020 Feb;56(2):350-363. doi: 10.1037/dev0000877.

  PMID: 31961194 BACKGROUND

• Baer RA, Smith GT, Lykins E, Button D, Krietemeyer J, Sauer S, Walsh E, Duggan D, Williams JM. Construct validity of the five facet mindfulness questionnaire in meditating and nonmeditating samples. Assessment. 2008 Sep;15(3):329-42. doi: 10.1177/1073191107313003. Epub 2008 Feb 29.

  PMID: 18310597 BACKGROUND

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: The measures and intervention will be self-administered, so there is no direct interaction between personnel and participants.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: This study uses a two-group between-subjects design.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 13, 2025
• First Posted: June 24, 2025
• Study Start: July 16, 2025
• Primary Completion: August 5, 2025
• Study Completion: August 5, 2025
• Last Updated: April 29, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: ANALYTIC CODE

Locations

US (1)