Imagine All the People: A Guided Internet-Based Imagery Training to Increase Assertiveness among University Students—Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

The importance of communication skills for well-being and self-realization is widely accepted. Despite that, research on assertiveness and assertiveness training has declined significantly in recent decades. Consequently, traditional training does not consider the most recent novel technologies used...

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Main Authors: Micaela Di Consiglio, Jessica Burrai, Emanuela Mari, Anna Maria Giannini, Alessandro Couyoumdjian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:Healthcare
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/13/1874
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author Micaela Di Consiglio
Jessica Burrai
Emanuela Mari
Anna Maria Giannini
Alessandro Couyoumdjian
author_facet Micaela Di Consiglio
Jessica Burrai
Emanuela Mari
Anna Maria Giannini
Alessandro Couyoumdjian
author_sort Micaela Di Consiglio
collection DOAJ
description The importance of communication skills for well-being and self-realization is widely accepted. Despite that, research on assertiveness and assertiveness training has declined significantly in recent decades. Consequently, traditional training does not consider the most recent novel technologies used to spread psychological interventions. This study proposes the development of ComunicaBene: a guided Internet-based imagery intervention to promote assertiveness. Moreover, it describes the study protocol for a randomized control trial to investigate the intervention’s efficacy and acceptability. Participants will be randomly assigned to an experimental (ComunicaBene) or waitlist control condition. ComunicaBene consists of different online training modules corresponding to three phases: psychoeducation, imaginative exposure, and in vivo-exposure. Each module provides participants with theoretical and practical content about needs, emotions, communication style, and assertiveness. Moreover, during the program, every student is supervised by a Tutor. Participants in the control condition will be included in a waiting list. Primary and secondary outcomes will include changes in assertiveness, well-being, emotional awareness, worry, and rumination. Outcomes will be assessed at pre- and post-intervention, and via a 6-month follow-up. We expect that the results will support the efficacy of ComunicaBene as an innovative, scalable, affordable, and acceptable intervention to spread assertive training through the Internet and among a broad population.
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spelling doaj.art-9d15588f35dc4f1a90ec6b23706c06bb2023-11-18T16:36:20ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-06-011113187410.3390/healthcare11131874Imagine All the People: A Guided Internet-Based Imagery Training to Increase Assertiveness among University Students—Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled TrialMicaela Di Consiglio0Jessica Burrai1Emanuela Mari2Anna Maria Giannini3Alessandro Couyoumdjian4Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyThe importance of communication skills for well-being and self-realization is widely accepted. Despite that, research on assertiveness and assertiveness training has declined significantly in recent decades. Consequently, traditional training does not consider the most recent novel technologies used to spread psychological interventions. This study proposes the development of ComunicaBene: a guided Internet-based imagery intervention to promote assertiveness. Moreover, it describes the study protocol for a randomized control trial to investigate the intervention’s efficacy and acceptability. Participants will be randomly assigned to an experimental (ComunicaBene) or waitlist control condition. ComunicaBene consists of different online training modules corresponding to three phases: psychoeducation, imaginative exposure, and in vivo-exposure. Each module provides participants with theoretical and practical content about needs, emotions, communication style, and assertiveness. Moreover, during the program, every student is supervised by a Tutor. Participants in the control condition will be included in a waiting list. Primary and secondary outcomes will include changes in assertiveness, well-being, emotional awareness, worry, and rumination. Outcomes will be assessed at pre- and post-intervention, and via a 6-month follow-up. We expect that the results will support the efficacy of ComunicaBene as an innovative, scalable, affordable, and acceptable intervention to spread assertive training through the Internet and among a broad population.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/13/1874assertive trainingassertivenessimaginationimagery techniqueweb-based interventionguided self-help intervention
spellingShingle Micaela Di Consiglio
Jessica Burrai
Emanuela Mari
Anna Maria Giannini
Alessandro Couyoumdjian
Imagine All the People: A Guided Internet-Based Imagery Training to Increase Assertiveness among University Students—Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Healthcare
assertive training
assertiveness
imagination
imagery technique
web-based intervention
guided self-help intervention
title Imagine All the People: A Guided Internet-Based Imagery Training to Increase Assertiveness among University Students—Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full Imagine All the People: A Guided Internet-Based Imagery Training to Increase Assertiveness among University Students—Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
title_fullStr Imagine All the People: A Guided Internet-Based Imagery Training to Increase Assertiveness among University Students—Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full_unstemmed Imagine All the People: A Guided Internet-Based Imagery Training to Increase Assertiveness among University Students—Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
title_short Imagine All the People: A Guided Internet-Based Imagery Training to Increase Assertiveness among University Students—Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
title_sort imagine all the people a guided internet based imagery training to increase assertiveness among university students study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
topic assertive training
assertiveness
imagination
imagery technique
web-based intervention
guided self-help intervention
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/13/1874
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