Clinical Trial Details
— Status: Completed
Administrative data
| NCT number |
NCT04589117 |
| Other study ID # |
Pro00105586 |
| Secondary ID |
|
| Status |
Completed |
| Phase |
N/A
|
| First received |
|
| Last updated |
|
| Start date |
May 27, 2020 |
| Est. completion date |
August 2, 2020 |
Study information
| Verified date |
November 2021 |
| Source |
Duke University |
| Contact |
n/a |
| Is FDA regulated |
No |
| Health authority |
|
| Study type |
Interventional
|
Clinical Trial Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of a 4-week, virtually-delivered
expressive writing intervention on resilience in a cohort of parents and caregivers currently
navigating the COVID-19 pandemic during spring & summer of 2020.
Description:
In 2016, the research team piloted a 6-week intervention on expressive writing for resilience
in a population of trauma survivors. Participants self-identified as having had a recent
trauma or significant life upheaval, such as a divorce, major illness, job loss, or the death
of a loved one. At 6 weeks, the investigators found that participants experienced
significantly improved levels of resilience and lower levels of stress, rumination, and
depression. These results added to a growing body of research indicating the potential for
expressive writing to be a powerful healing modality for both psychological and physical
well-being.
The current COVID-19 pandemic presents the potential for trauma or significant life upheaval
for nearly all members of the community and the world at large. Parents of children who are
at home face unique challenges during this time. Social distancing guidelines, shelter in
place protocols, school and business closures, travel restrictions, high levels of job loss,
loss of childcare, and the looming threat of illness have disrupted daily routines, family
life, and significantly altered life plans for many. Parents and caregivers who have
unexpectedly lost childcare, are having to adjust to home schooling arrangements, and/or are
having to end to heightened emotional needs in their children may experience this time as
particularly difficult.
Resilience is the capacity for individuals to adapt and recover in the face of trauma,
adversity, or significant sources of stress. The current collective reality magnifies the
need for accessible, low-cost, effective interventions to help people cultivate resilience
and other dimensions of psychological well-being.
In this study, the investigators seek to further the work the research team began in 2016
with a 4-week, virtually-delivered expressive writing intervention designed to support
parents in cultivating personal resilience and emotional wellness during the COVID-19
pandemic.
