Fostering resilience and well-being in emerging adults with adverse childhood experiences: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the FACE self-help app
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Authors
Löchner, Johanna
Berger, Thomas
Schmidt, Stefanie J.
Author (Corporation)
Publication date
02/2024
Typ of student thesis
Course of study
Type
01A - Journal article
Editors
Editor (Corporation)
Supervisor
Parent work
BMC Psychology
Special issue
DOI of the original publication
Link
Series
Series number
Volume
12
Issue / Number
84
Pages / Duration
Patent number
Publisher / Publishing institution
BioMed Central
Place of publication / Event location
London
Edition
Version
Programming language
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Practice partner / Client
Abstract
Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are linked to an increased risk of psychological disorders and lower psychosocial functioning throughout life. This study aims to evaluate the FACE self-help app, designed to promote resilience and well-being in emerging adults with a history of ACE. The app is based on cognitive- behavioural principles and consists of two thematic components: (1) self- and emotion regulation (SER) and (2) social skills and biases in social information processing (SSIP).
Methods: The efficacy of the app will be tested through a single-centre, two-arm randomized controlled trial, comparing an active intervention group against a waiting list control group. The active group is divided into two subgroups, in which the two components are delivered in a different order to investigate differential effects in a crossover design. Up to 250 emerging adults aged 18 to 25 years with a history of ACE from a general population cohort study will be recruited. The primary objective is to test the efficacy of the app in improving resilience (primary outcome) and well-being (co-primary outcome) compared to a waiting list control group and to examine the stability of these effects. The secondary objectives include testing the efficacy of the app in improving the secondary outcomes, i.e., self-efficacy in managing emotions, problem solving, fear of evaluation, social avoidance, and self- esteem; examining the differential effects of the two components; and assessing the effect of the app on real-life data on resilience, affective states, distress in social interactions and coping strategies. Furthermore, the study will investigate potential moderators (e.g. ACE severity) and mediators of intervention outcomes (e.g. self-efficacy in managing emotions).
Discussion: The results will provide insights into the efficacy of the self-help intervention as well as mediators and moderators of outcomes. Furthermore, results will extend the existing knowledge by testing the differential effects of the SER and SSIP component on the outcomes. Findings can inform improvements to the FACE app and the development of other interventions for this target group and assess its potential as a scalable, low-threshold intervention to support emerging adults with a history of ACE in their transition to adulthood. Trial registration number: NCT05824182.
Keywords
Adverse childhood experiences, Child maltreatment, E-health, Resilience, Emotion regulation, Social information processing, Emerging adulthood, RCT
Subject (DDC)
150 - Psychologie
300 - Sozialwissenschaften, Soziologie, Anthropologie
300 - Sozialwissenschaften, Soziologie, Anthropologie
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ISBN
ISSN
2050-7283
Language
English
Created during FHNW affiliation
Yes
Strategic action fields FHNW
Publication status
Published
Review
Peer review of the complete publication
Open access category
Gold
Citation
BRODBECK, Jeannette, Salome BÖTSCHI, Neela Kim VETSCH, Lina STALLMANN, Johanna LÖCHNER, Thomas BERGER, Stefanie J. SCHMIDT und Simon MARMET, 2024. Fostering resilience and well-being in emerging adults with adverse childhood experiences: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the FACE self-help app. BMC Psychology. Februar 2024. Bd. 12, Nr. 84. DOI 10.1186/s40359-024-01560-9. Verfügbar unter: https://doi.org/10.26041/fhnw-8241