An interventional study of ENHANCE group and MBSR group in Well-being, sponsored by University of British Columbia. Completed at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 25 Years to 75 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-06-11.
Sponsored by University of British Columbia · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
The study is designed to compare the efficacy of two programs intended to improve happiness and well-being among healthy, community adults between the ages of 25 and 75 years. Participants will complete either an in-person program (ENHANCE) or a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) self-help program over 3-months. The ENHANCE program will include 12-weekly sessions based on researched principles of happiness. Alternatively, the MBSR self-help guide will teach ways to replace stress-promoting habits. Participants will be asked to complete a series of measures at three points of the study: at the start of the study, the end of the study, and 3-months following the study.
In 2011, the United Nations defined happiness as a "fundamental human goal" and invited Member States to pursue measures that enhance the happiness of their citizens. The majority of people across the globe agree that happiness is an important goal. In accordance with this global goal to be happy, the psychological literature abounds with interventions to combat problems that may prevent people from being happy-from obesity to depression and physical pain. However, happiness is not simply the absence of problems. Yet, interventions to help people attain and maintain higher levels of happiness are rare. Accordingly, in a previous study, the investigators designed and evaluated the efficacy of a theoretically-grounded, evidence-based randomized controlled trial for enhancing happiness and well-being. In the present study, it is the goal to assess the efficacy of modifications made to the original program, and compare the program to a self-help comparison group. All participants in the study will complete weekly questionnaires, as well as the same battery of online assessments at baseline, the end of the study, and 3-months following the study. The investigators will be examining if changes seen from baseline to the end of the interventions are maintained through a maintenance intervention in both arms for 3 months following the primary intervention.
It is expect that participants actively completing the in-person ENHANCE program will report greater increase in their overall levels of happiness/well-being at the end of the 12-week program compared to participants in the MBSR self-help group. It is predicted that there will be a downstream effect on happiness for all participants' mental and physical health, cognitive function, social relationships, and other positive outcomes, but that this effect will be greater for participants in the active in-person ENHANCE group. The insights gained from this research could be used in future intervention research towards promoting health, achievement, citizenship, and better relationships.
Exclusion Criteria:
The ENHANCE group is comprised of 12 weekly session to be completed in-person and delivered by trained group facilitators.
Behavioral: ENHANCE group
The MBSR group will complete a self-help workbook entitled, "A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook" over a 12 week period.
Behavioral: MBSR group
The ENHANCE program includes an initial 3-month treatment of 12 weekly sessions (including an introductory session, a final session, and 10 content sessions) followed by a 3-month maintenance phase intervention with bi-weekly sessions. Over the course of the program, participants will learn about 10 evidenced-based principles of happiness and how these principles can be applied effectively in their lives. At the final session, participants will receive feedback outlining the happiness principles and activities that fit them best, and will then be asked to work on creating a plan for integrating those principles into their daily lives.
The MBSR program is based on the self-help workbook entitled, "A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook". This workbook is authored by Drs. Bob Stahl and Elisha Goldstein - who are both certified MBSR trainers. The workbook is written to help everyday people learn how to replace stress-promoting habits with mindfully-based ones to improve overall well-being. The workbook begins by providing a thorough introduction to the basic tenets of mindfulness, and improving well-being through the use of mindfulness-based skills. The workbook outlines, in detail, several skills-based exercises for practicing mindfulness across different aspects of a person's life. The MBSR group will be provided with a recommended weekly schedule for the initial 3-month treatment and a list of additional resources to be completed over the 3-month maintenance phase.
Change from Baseline Satisfaction With Life
Satisfaction With Life Scale
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline in Positive Affect
Scale of Positive and Negative Experience: SPANE
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline in Negative Affect
Scale of Positive and Negative Experience: SPANE
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline in Meaning in Life
Meaning in Life Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline in Thriving
Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline in Physical Activity
Step count captured from Fitbits
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline in Perceived Social Support
The Social Provisions Scale
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline in Relationship Satisfaction
The Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline to attention, concentration, reaction time, memory, processing speed, executive functioning and decision-making
Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM)
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline in Implicit Theories of Well-Being
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from baseline to Empathy
The Toronto Empathy Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Positive and Negative Memories Generated by Participants
In this task, participants list as many positive (and then negative) life events and then as many negative life events as they can in three minutes. Relative quantities of positive to negative life events that are listed demonstrate accessibility of positive and negative memories, which is an indicator of Subjective Well-Being.
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Peer Reports of Positive Behaviors
Peers will be asked to evaluate the participant on how frequently they engaged in a series of affect-related displays over the past week: smiling, laughing
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Peer Reports of Satisfaction With Life
Peers will be asked to report on changes to the participant's satisfaction with life
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Peer Reports of Positive Affect
Peers will be asked to report on changes to the participant's positive affect
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Peer Reports of Negative Affect
Peers will be asked to report on changes to the participant's negative affect
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Peer Reports of Negative Behaviors
Peers will be asked to evaluate the participant on how frequently they engaged in a series of affect-related displays over the past week: crying, frowning, complaining, and criticizing
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Healthy Behaviors
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Perceived Stress
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Depression
Patient Health Questionnaire-9
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Self-Esteem
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Psychological Need Satisfaction: Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness
Need Satisfaction Scale
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Body Mass Index: BMI
BMI = (Weight in Kilograms / (Height in Meters x Height in Meters))
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is taken twice using a blood pressure cuff and the average will be reported
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Sleep Quality
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Change from Baseline Alertness
The Stanford Sleepiness Scale
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Objective Change from Baseline in Sleep
Fitbit Sleep data: length, # of times awake
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6 months
Plan to share: Undecided — We are currently consulting with others on the grant team regarding our long-term data plan and will update with our final data sharing plan in October 2017
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University of British Columbia