Reducing Eco-anxiety Using Selfies

Yale University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Ecology; Anxiety

Treatments: Behavioral: Short videos

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05372705

2000028980_d

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purposes of this study are to test among adolescent viewers the utility of selfie (TikTok) short video-based interventions to:

1. Reduce ecological anxiety,
2. Increase ecological agency,
3. Compare two different types of messaging, and
4. Examine the role of viewer's gender and race as independent factors on the outcomes of interest.

Full description

Intervention videos will each be TikTok self-recorded videos (of 58-second duration) featuring the same underage professional (ages 16) acting as simulated participant. Video 1 ("Negative") will focus on impending ecological catastrophic outcomes; Video 2 ("Positive") will focus on the actions that youth will be able to take in preventing such outcomes; and Video 3 ("Neutral") will include content unrelated to ecological concerns.

We intend to assign ~1,000 individuals aged 14-18 in a randomized way, in equal proportions, and stratified by sex and race, to view one of the three TikTok videos: Positive, Negative, or Neutral.

Assessments will occur at baseline and post-intervention, and will include:

1. Demographics (baseline only),

2. Primary outcome:

   a. Climate Change Anxiety scale (13 items)

3. Secondary outcome:

   1. Climate Hope scale (11 items)
   2. Behavioral intentions (6 items; adapted from)29,
   3. Hopefulness and agency sliders (2 items), and
   4. Three words

Enrollment: 1,200 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 14 to 18 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• English-speaking
• Living in the US
• Ages 14 - 18

Exclusion criteria

• None

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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1,200 participants in 3 patient groups

Positive

Active Comparator group

Description:

\~58-second selfie video (TikTok) of an adolescent presenting a "can do" / climate action / positive perspective on global warming

Treatment:

Behavioral: Short videos

Negative

Active Comparator group

Description:

\~58-second selfie video (TikTok) of an adolescent presenting an "it's already too late" / climate catastrophe / negative perspective on global warming

Treatment:

Behavioral: Short videos

Neutral

Active Comparator group

Description:

\~58-second selfie video (TikTok) of an adolescent discussing a topic unrelated to climate change or global warming

Treatment:

Behavioral: Short videos