Effectiveness of attachment-based compassion therapy to reduce psychological distress in university students: a randomised controlled trial protocol

Introduction Higher education, particularly university, is a challenge for many students that can lead to their mental health being seriously affected. The stress to which they are subject throughout their time at university can lead to anxiety and depression. "Third wave" psychotherapies,...

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Autores: Beltrán-Ruiz M, Fernández S, García-Campayo J, Puebla-Guedea M, López-Del-Hoyo Y, Navarro-Gil M, Montero-Marin J
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:España
Institución:Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
Repositorio:r-FSJD. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica de la Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
OAI Identifier:oai:fsjd.fundanetsuite.com:p24311
Acceso en línea:https://fsjd.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=24311
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:university students
psychological distress
compassion
attachment
mindfulness
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spelling Effectiveness of attachment-based compassion therapy to reduce psychological distress in university students: a randomised controlled trial protocolBeltrán-Ruiz MFernández SGarcía-Campayo JPuebla-Guedea MLópez-Del-Hoyo YNavarro-Gil MMontero-Marin Juniversity studentspsychological distresscompassionattachmentmindfulnessIntroduction Higher education, particularly university, is a challenge for many students that can lead to their mental health being seriously affected. The stress to which they are subject throughout their time at university can lead to anxiety and depression. "Third wave" psychotherapies, including compassion-based therapy, have been used to improve psychological outcomes, such as stress, anxiety, emotional distress and well-being. There are some signs that third wave psychotherapies reduce psychological distress in university students, but more and higher-quality studies are needed. In this randomised controlled trial (RCT), we hypothesise that the provision of attachment-based compassion therapy (ABCT) will be more effective than an active control group based on relaxation therapy for improving psychological distress in university students.Methods and analysis A two-arm RCT will be conducted involving 140 university undergraduate and postgraduate students from the University of Zaragoza and the National University of Distance Education (UNED) who reside in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. Interventions with either ABCT or relaxation therapy will be implemented, with an allocation ratio of 1:1 between groups. Both interventions will last six weeks and consist of six weekly group sessions lasting 1.5 h each. Data will be collected before and after the intervention, and there will be a follow-up at six months. The primary outcome will be psychological distress at post-intervention. Secondary outcomes will be depression, anxiety, stress and burnout symptoms, affectivity and emotional regulation. Attachment style, experiential avoidance, compassion (for others/oneself) and mindfulness skills will be measured as potential mechanistic variables. Intention-to-treat analysis will be performed using linear mixed regression models. The clinical significance of improvements will be calculated. Potential side effects will be monitored by an independent clinical psychologist.Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Aragon. Participant data will remain anonymous, and results will be submitted to peer-reviewed open-access journals and disseminated via conferences.FRONTIERS MEDIA SA2023info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttps://fsjd.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=24311Frontiers in PsychologyISSN: 16641078reponame:r-FSJD. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica de la Fundació Sant Joan de Déuinstname:Fundació Sant Joan de DéuInglésinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:fsjd.fundanetsuite.com:p243112026-05-27T12:37:41Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Effectiveness of attachment-based compassion therapy to reduce psychological distress in university students: a randomised controlled trial protocol
title Effectiveness of attachment-based compassion therapy to reduce psychological distress in university students: a randomised controlled trial protocol
spellingShingle Effectiveness of attachment-based compassion therapy to reduce psychological distress in university students: a randomised controlled trial protocol
Beltrán-Ruiz M
university students
psychological distress
compassion
attachment
mindfulness
title_short Effectiveness of attachment-based compassion therapy to reduce psychological distress in university students: a randomised controlled trial protocol
title_full Effectiveness of attachment-based compassion therapy to reduce psychological distress in university students: a randomised controlled trial protocol
title_fullStr Effectiveness of attachment-based compassion therapy to reduce psychological distress in university students: a randomised controlled trial protocol
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of attachment-based compassion therapy to reduce psychological distress in university students: a randomised controlled trial protocol
title_sort Effectiveness of attachment-based compassion therapy to reduce psychological distress in university students: a randomised controlled trial protocol
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Beltrán-Ruiz M
Fernández S
García-Campayo J
Puebla-Guedea M
López-Del-Hoyo Y
Navarro-Gil M
Montero-Marin J
author Beltrán-Ruiz M
author_facet Beltrán-Ruiz M
Fernández S
García-Campayo J
Puebla-Guedea M
López-Del-Hoyo Y
Navarro-Gil M
Montero-Marin J
author_role author
author2 Fernández S
García-Campayo J
Puebla-Guedea M
López-Del-Hoyo Y
Navarro-Gil M
Montero-Marin J
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv university students
psychological distress
compassion
attachment
mindfulness
topic university students
psychological distress
compassion
attachment
mindfulness
description Introduction Higher education, particularly university, is a challenge for many students that can lead to their mental health being seriously affected. The stress to which they are subject throughout their time at university can lead to anxiety and depression. "Third wave" psychotherapies, including compassion-based therapy, have been used to improve psychological outcomes, such as stress, anxiety, emotional distress and well-being. There are some signs that third wave psychotherapies reduce psychological distress in university students, but more and higher-quality studies are needed. In this randomised controlled trial (RCT), we hypothesise that the provision of attachment-based compassion therapy (ABCT) will be more effective than an active control group based on relaxation therapy for improving psychological distress in university students.Methods and analysis A two-arm RCT will be conducted involving 140 university undergraduate and postgraduate students from the University of Zaragoza and the National University of Distance Education (UNED) who reside in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. Interventions with either ABCT or relaxation therapy will be implemented, with an allocation ratio of 1:1 between groups. Both interventions will last six weeks and consist of six weekly group sessions lasting 1.5 h each. Data will be collected before and after the intervention, and there will be a follow-up at six months. The primary outcome will be psychological distress at post-intervention. Secondary outcomes will be depression, anxiety, stress and burnout symptoms, affectivity and emotional regulation. Attachment style, experiential avoidance, compassion (for others/oneself) and mindfulness skills will be measured as potential mechanistic variables. Intention-to-treat analysis will be performed using linear mixed regression models. The clinical significance of improvements will be calculated. Potential side effects will be monitored by an independent clinical psychologist.Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Aragon. Participant data will remain anonymous, and results will be submitted to peer-reviewed open-access journals and disseminated via conferences.
publishDate 2023
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2023
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
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status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://fsjd.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=24311
url https://fsjd.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=24311
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
publisher.none.fl_str_mv FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Frontiers in Psychology
ISSN: 16641078
reponame:r-FSJD. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica de la Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
instname:Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
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