Can briefly reflecting upon unconditional regard buffer adolescents’ selves? A field experiment

ISRCTN ISRCTN28998975
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN28998975
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
03/03/2014
Registration date
13/03/2014
Last edited
13/02/2015
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Unconditional regard refers to the feeling that one is accepted and valued by others without conditions. Psychological theory holds that when people experience unconditional regard from others, they feel valuable without conditions. Thus, unconditional regard might reduce negative self-feelings in the face of setbacks (e.g., “I am a valuable person, even if I get low
grades in school”). However, evidence for this concept is lacking. This study tests whether reflecting on unconditional regard can reduce adolescents’ negative self-feelings (i.e., negative feelings about oneself) in the face of a common setback—low grades in school.
This study focuses on 11-15 year olds, because this is an age during which negative self-feelings peak.

Who can participate?
Adolescents aged 11-15 years old.

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to reflect for 15 minutes on experiences of unconditional regard (experimental condition), conditional regard (first control group), or other social experiences (second control group). Three weeks later, after receiving their
course grades, participants report their negative self-feelings and negative other-feelings. Course grades are obtained from school records.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
We do not foresee any risks.

Where is the study run from?
A public secondary school in the Netherlands.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started in November 2011 and ran until January 2012.

Who is funding the study?
The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research.

Who is the main contact?
Eddie Brummelman, MSc
e.brummelman@uu.nl

Contact information

Mr Eddie Brummelman
Scientific

Heidelberglaan 1
Utrecht
3584 CS
Netherlands

Phone +31 30 253 94 45
Email e.brummelman@uu.nl

Study information

Study designSingle-blind randomized controlled field experiment. Experimenters and teachers are blind to condition assignment.
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeQuality of life
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleCan briefly reflecting upon unconditional regard buffer adolescents’ negative self-feelings following low school grades? A randomized single-blind field experiment
Study objectivesWe hypothesize that reflecting upon unconditional regard, compared to two active control groups,
1. will buffer participants’ negative self-feelings following low school grades
2. but will not buffer participants’ negative other-feelings following low school grades.
Ethics approval(s)The Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, 28/02/2014
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedNegative self-feelings (i.e., negative feelings about oneself)
InterventionParticipants are randomly assigned to the unconditional-regard condition or one of two active control conditions.

1. In the unconditional-regard condition, participants are told to think of peers “who always accept and value you, no matter how you behave or how good you are at something.” Next, they visualize and write about a situation in which one of these peers “still accepted and valued you even though you made a mistake or did something stupid.”
2. In the first control condition, participants are told to think of peers “who accept and value you, but only if you do or say the kind of things these peers like, approve of, or look up to.” Next, they visualize and write about a situation in which one of these peers “accepted and valued you less because you made a mistake or did something stupid.”
3. In the second control condition, participants are told to think of peers “who do not really know you.” Next, they visualize and write about a situation in which one of these peers was present while “you made a mistake or did something stupid.”

In all conditions, the exercise takes about 15 minutes.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measure1. Negative self-feelings (i.e., negative feelings about oneself) measured by questionnaire at 3 weeks post-manipulation
2. School grades measured by report card received at 3 weeks post-manipulation
Secondary outcome measuresNegative other-feelings (i.e., negative feelings about others) measured by questionnaire at 3 weeks post-manipulation
Overall study start date28/11/2011
Completion date16/01/2012

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupChild
Lower age limit11 Years
Upper age limit15 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants247
Key inclusion criteria1. Adequate Dutch language ability
2. Attending Dutch secondary school
3. Between 11-15 years old
Key exclusion criteriaDoes not meet inclusion criteria
Date of first enrolment28/11/2011
Date of final enrolment16/01/2012

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Netherlands

Study participating centre

Heidelberglaan 1
Utrecht
3584 CS
Netherlands

Sponsor information

Utrecht University (Netherlands)
University/education

c/o Prof. Dr. Bram Orobio de Castro
Department of Developmental Psychology
Heidelberglaan 1
Utrecht
3584 CS
Netherlands

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/04pp8hn57

Funders

Funder type

Research organisation

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (Netherlands) Ref. 431-09-022

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/12/2014 Yes No