Evaluating the Efficacy of a 91-day Self-talk Mental Health Self-care Journal

University of Victoria

Status: Completed

Conditions: Self Care; Mental Health

Treatments: Other: Self-Talk Journals

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05738109

21-0361

Details and patient eligibility

About

1. Does a 91-day self-talk journal intervention improve outcomes of self-criticism, self-esteem, automatic negative self-statements, and mental health among participants using the journal over wait-list control?
2. What is the adherence rate to a 91-day self-talk journal intervention?
3. What were participants' experience(s) of using a 91-day self-talk journal?

Full description

The following research project can contribute to the investigators' understanding of how/how well self-guided resources can increase participant outcomes of self-criticism, self-esteem, automatic negative self-statements, and mental health. Self-guided resources such as a self-talk journal provide can provide an easily accessible avenue for improving individual mental health. There has been a recent surge in the popularity of health-promotive self-care products, or products aimed at providing individuals with "the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to achieve and maintain good health". These products (often in the form of journals) are similar to "self-help books"; however, a key difference is that self-care products prompt and provide space for the reader to actively engage in activities and psychological techniques, unlike the passive nature of traditional self-help books. These products typically address mental health concerns (i.e., mental health self-care) and are advertised to provide an effective means for individuals to reduce stress, improve self-compassion, and boost wellbeing. What's more, the generally positive reviews these products garner provides the perception that these products are well-received and effective in eliciting these outcomes. However, the scientific foundation for the majority of these journals is unknown. Furthermore, the efficacy of these products for improving or promoting their intended outcome(s) is often not addressed outside of these, often positive, reviews.

Enrollment: 67 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 19+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

(1) being 19+ years old, (2) being fluent in English, (3) currently living in the Greater Victoria area, (4) self-reporting no previously diagnosed mental illness or psychiatric conditions, and (5) scoring >12 on the Self-Criticism subscale of the Self-Talk Scale (based on previous mean data; Brinthaupt, Hein, & Kramer, 2009).

Exclusion criteria

• Scoring =<12 on the Self-Talk Scale, currently receiving or seeking therapy for a mental illness, or a current or previous diagnosis of mental illness.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

67 participants in 2 patient groups

Self-guided journaling Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Participants assigned to the waitlist group complete a 2wk, 1mo, 2mo and 3mo survey over the 91-day study period. After the 91-days they will also complete a follow-up survey and exit interview

Treatment:

Other: Self-Talk Journals

Waitlist Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants assigned to the waitlist group complete a 2wk, 1mo, 2mo and 3mo survey over the 91-day study period. After the 91-days they receive access to the 91-day Self-Talk Journal for their own personal use.