Caregiver Mind-Mindedness Training to Alleviate Social Anxiety in Children (CAMPS)

Heriot-Watt University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Social Anxiety Disorder of Childhood

Treatments: Other: mind-mindedness

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06657014

MM-SOCIALANXIETY-2024

Heriot watt university (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate the efficacy of Mind-Mindedness (MM) training for caregivers as an early intervention for preschool-aged children (4 to 7 years) exhibiting signs of social anxiety. The study posits that enhancing caregivers' ability to recognize and respond to their children's thoughts, feelings, and intentions-termed Mind-Mindedness-can foster secure attachments and improve socioemotional outcomes for children.

A total of 100 primary caregivers will be recruited from the United Kingdom and Iran, with participants randomly assigned to either an MM training intervention group or a peer support control group. The MM training will consist of three online sessions, each lasting one hour, focusing on strategies for implementing mind-minded comments and enhancing emotional understanding. The peer support group will provide caregivers with an online platform for sharing experiences related to their child's anxiety without receiving structured training.

Assessments of Mind-Mindedness, child social anxiety, attachment, and theory of mind will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and three months after the intervention using validated measures. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of MM training in reducing social anxiety symptoms in children while examining the potential mediating roles of attachment and theory of mind in this relationship.

By incorporating a cross-cultural approach, this research will contribute to understanding the influence of cultural contexts on the effectiveness of caregiver interventions. The anticipated findings could establish MM training as a valuable strategy for mitigating social anxiety in preschoolers and inform future clinical practices aimed at enhancing caregiver-child interactions.

Full description

This study aims to explore a new approach to support preschool children (ages 4 to 7) who struggle with social anxiety. The investigators believe that when caregivers, such as parents, understand and respond more effectively to their child's feelings and thoughts, it can help the child feel more secure and less anxious in social situations.

To test this idea, the investigators are inviting 100 caregivers from the UK and Iran to participate in our research. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups: one group will receive special training called Mind-Mindedness training, which consists of three online sessions designed to teach caregivers techniques for better understanding their child's emotions. The other group will participate in a peer support group where participants can share experiences with other caregivers, this group will not receive the training.

The investigators will assess the children's social anxiety before the training, immediately after it, and three months later to determine if the training has a positive impact. This study aims to demonstrate how enhancing caregiver awareness of their child's feelings can reduce anxiety and help children interact more confidently with others.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Primary Caregiver Status: Participants must be the primary caregiver of a child aged 4 to 7 years.

Age of Caregiver: Caregivers must be between 18 and 60 years old. Geographical Location: Caregivers must reside in either the United Kingdom or Iran.

Social Anxiety Symptoms: Children must exhibit observable signs of social anxiety, which will be confirmed through a standardized screening tool.

Exclusion criteria

• Clinical Diagnosis: Children with a clinical diagnosis of another psychiatric disorder (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, ADHD) will be excluded.

Concurrent Support: Caregivers of children who are currently receiving any other form of psychological support or treatment for social anxiety will be excluded.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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100 participants in 2 patient groups

Mind-Mindedness Training Group

Experimental group

Description:

The Mind-Mindedness Training Group will involve 50 caregivers of preschool-aged children (ages 4 to 7) with social anxiety. Participants will attend three one-hour online sessions over three consecutive weeks. The training focuses on enhancing caregivers' ability to recognize and respond to their children's thoughts and emotions. Each session includes: * Session 1:\*\* Introduction to mind-mindedness, its importance, and caregiver roles in managing social anxiety. * Session 2:\*\* Practical strategies for emotion coaching, including role-play exercises. * Session 3:\*\* Advanced strategies addressing common challenges, with discussions and video examples. Participants will receive materials to support their learning. Effectiveness will be assessed through evaluations of mind-mindedness, child social anxiety, and related areas at baseline, post-intervention, and three months later.

Treatment:

Other: mind-mindedness

Peer Support Control Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

The Peer Support Control Group will consist of 50 primary caregivers of preschool-aged children (ages 4 to 7) exhibiting signs of social anxiety. Participants will not receive Mind-Mindedness training but will have access to a private online peer support platform. This group aims to provide a supportive environment for caregivers to share experiences, concerns, and coping strategies. Key features include: Peer Support Platform:A moderated online group for discussions and emotional support among caregivers. Resource Sharing: Opportunities for caregivers to share helpful articles, tips, and resources. Facilitated Discussions: Occasional prompts to encourage conversations about common challenges. Participants will complete assessments of mind-mindedness, social anxiety, attachment, and theory of mind at baseline, post-intervention, and three months later, similar to the Mind-Mindedness Training Group. This control group allows for comparisons of the effectiveness

Treatment:

Other: mind-mindedness