NCT05866718

Can Applying the Science of Habit Formation to Contemplative Practice Improve Outcomes

Can Applying the Science of Habit Formation to Contemplative Practice Improve Outcomes? A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Single-Session Habit Formation Intervention for Self-Compassionate Touch

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 497 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of California, Berkeley · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

In the present study, the investigators will conduct a confirmatory efficacy trial to test whether improving practice automaticity (i.e., habit formation) of self-compassionate touch improves outcomes in the predicted direction. Adults (n=440, including 20% for attrition) will be randomly assigned to: (1) the self-compassionate touch intervention plus habit formation tools ("SCT+HABITS") versus (2) the self-compassionate touch intervention alone ("SCT"). The investigators will conduct assessments at baseline, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up. The SCT+HABITS condition will be used to evaluate whether providing habit formation tools results in superior effects to SCT. The intervention will be delivered entirely online.

Detailed description

Specific Aim 1: Evaluate whether SCT+HABITS shows more practice frequency and practice automaticity from baseline to 3-month, and to 6-month follow-up compared to the SCT. Hypothesis 1. The SCT+HABITS group will show greater increases in practice frequency and practice automaticity than SCT from baseline to 3-month, and to 6-month follow-up. Specific Aim 2: Determine whether SCT+HABITS, relative to SCT, will experience increased self-compassion and self-compassion automaticity, and reduced stress and psychopathology. Hypothesis 2. SCT+HABITS will promote greater increases in self-compassion and self-compassion automaticity, and greater reductions in stress and psychopathology from baseline to 3-month, to 6-month follow-up. Specific Aim 3: Assess whether greater baseline to 3-month follow-up increases in practice automaticity mediate the association between SCT+HABITS and baseline to 6-month follow-up increases in (a) self-compassion and (b) self-compassion automaticity, as well as reductions in (c) stress and (d) psychopathology. Hypothesis 3. Greater baseline to 3-month follow-up increases in practice automaticity will mediate the association between the SCT+HABITS group and baseline to 6-month follow-up increases in (a) self-compassion and (b) self-compassion automaticity, as well as reductions in (c) stress and (d) psychopathology. Exploratory Aim: Evaluate the barriers, facilitators, and acceptability of SCT+HABITS and SCT alone. This aim will be addressed via qualitative analyses to characterize barriers and facilitators to habit formation, and the proportion of participants in each condition (SCT+HABITS and SCT alone) who noted each type of barrier and facilitator. Participants will self-report on acceptability and feasibility via questionnaire. Then, the investigators will examine whether SCT+HABITS and SCT alone will meet or exceed the established criteria for acceptability and feasibility.

Conditions

• Psychopathology

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Self-Compassionate Touch Intervention	Participants will be taught the micropractice (\<20-second/day personal practice) via video recording.
BEHAVIORAL	Habit Formation Tools	Participants will receive evidence-based tools for promoting habit-formation.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-06-14
• Primary completion: 2024-09-22
• Completion: 2024-09-22
• First posted: 2023-05-19
• Last updated: 2025-12-31

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States