Positive EmotionsNCT06851637
Reducing Symptoms of Depression, Stress and Anxiety and Enhancing Positive Mental Health: a Randomized-controlled Study of the Positive Emotions Training
A study testing PoET in people with Positive Emotions and Mental Health, run by Ruhr University of Bochum at 1 site in Germany.
Trial summary
Based on the results of the previously published paper "Positive Emotions Training (PoET) as an online intervention to improve mental health: a feasibility study" (Niemann et al., 2023) the goal of this study was to examine the effects of the "Positive Emotions Training" on mental health in a randomized-controlled… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Positive Emotions, Mental Health, Intervention (Training) Condition
- What is being tested?
- PoET
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 297 participants
- Where
- 1 siteGermany
- Study dates
- 3 Nov 2022to 4 May 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- legal age (18), ability to use Zoom and all associated technology
Who cannot join
- none
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Based on the results of the previously published paper "Positive Emotions Training (PoET) as an online intervention to improve mental health: a feasibility study" (Niemann et al., 2023) the goal of this study was to examine the effects of the "Positive Emotions Training" on mental health in a randomized-controlled study. Furthermore, possible predictors for the efficacy of PoET are to be explored.
Hypotheses:
Read more
- It was hypothesized that participants receiving PoET would show a significant increase in positive mental health factors at the second assessment point (T2) at end of the second training day.
- Furthermore, participants receiving PoET are to be expected to show a significant decrease in depression, anxiety and stress symptoms at T2.
- It was hypothesized that the changes in mental health factors remain stable up to the last assessment point (T3) three month after the training.
- Lastly, it was hypothesized that there would be no significant changes in the positive or negative mental health factors in the control group at T2 and T3.
- The possible predictors of the training's efficacy were not hypothesized, but examined in exploratory investigations.
Methods:
The final sample was n = 207 with n = 90 in the PoET group and n = 117 in the control. The control group did not receive any intervention in the experimental period, but was offered to participate in a later PoET. The allocation was randomized. Participants in the PoET group completed two online training sessions (3 hours each) via Zoom. Group size was about 25-30 people. The sessions included the following positive psychology constructs: happiness, humour, optimism, loving kindness and gratitude on the first day, and hope, self-efficacy, meaningfulness, forgiveness and resilience on the second day. All participants completed a questionnaire at the beginning of the first training session, at the end of the second one as well as three months after the second session. Participants were given an exercise booklet for all exercises (during the training sessions and at home). The one-week break between the two sessions was advertised as a "7-day-challenge" to improve the motivation in participants to exercise at home.
Data was collected pseudonymised via "qualtrics". Data analyses were conducted with RStudio. For the possible effects of PoET on mental health two-factorial repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted. For the exploration of possible predictors for the efficacy of the training, a hierarchical regression was conducted.
- Conditions
- Positive Emotions, Mental Health, Intervention (Training) Condition, Randomized Controlled Study, General Population (no Specific Condition or Disease)
- Being tested
- PoET
- Keywords
- positive emotions, online intervention, positive psychology, randomized controlled study, intervention, general population
- Medical subject headings
- Psychological Well-Being, Disease
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
PoETBehavioural
Participants in the PoET group completed two online training sessions (3 hours each) via Zoom. Group size was about 25-30 people. The sessions included the following positive psychology constructs: happiness, humour, optimism, loving kindness and gratitude on the first day, and hope, self-efficacy, meaningfulness, forgiveness and resilience on the second day.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| PoET group | Experimental | Participants of this arm received the PoET online training within two sessions. They filled out a whole of three questionnaires. Receives: Behavioral: PoET |
| Control group | No intervention | Participants did not receive any treatment initially, but were offered to participate in a later PoET training as compensation. They filled out a whole of three questionnaires. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Positive Mental Health Scale (PMH)
9 items, 4-point-scale from 0 ("I do not agree ") to 3 ("I agree"), assessing emotional and psychological aspects of wellbeing, higher scores reflect better positive mental health
Measured: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session
Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21)
21 items, 4-point-scale from 0 ("did not apply to me at all") to 3 ("applied to me very much or most of the time"), assessing negative emotional states, higher scores reflect more symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress
Measured: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session
Secondary outcomes (7)
Life Orientation Test revised (LOT-r)
10 items, 5-point-scale from 0 ("strongly disagree") to 4 ("strongly agree"), assessing dispositional optimism, higher scores reflect higher dispositional optimism
Measured: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session
Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)
5 items, 7-point-scale from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 7 ("strongly agree"), assessing global subjective happiness, higher scores indicate a happier person
Measured: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session
Brief Resilience Scale (BRS)
6 items, 5-point-scale from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 5 ("strongly agree"), assessing participants' ability to recover from stress despite significant adversity, higher scores reflect higher resilience
Measured: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session
Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ)
20 items, 4-point-scale from 1 ("almost never") to 4 ("usually"), assessing the perceived stress in different areas of life, higher scores indicate more stress
Measured: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session
Satisfaction in different areas of life
self-generated, five items, 4-point-scale from 1 ("not satisfied") to 4 ("satisfied"), assessing participants satisfaction in five different areas of life, higher scores reflecting higher satisfaction
Measured: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session
Implementation of at-home exercices
self-generated, two questions regarding the frequency and the kind of exercise participants did at home
Measured: after 2nd training session and three months after 2nd training session
Socio-demographic data
age, gender, marital status, education, employment
Measured: before 1st training session
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Feb 2025
- Study start3 Nov 2022
- Primary completion4 May 2023
- Study completion4 May 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Positive EmotionsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 297 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ruhr University of Bochum
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Lara Steinmann, Ruhr University of Bochum
- Investigators
- Christina Bartnick (born Totzeck), PhD, Study director, Ruhr-University Bochum
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06851637
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PoET102
- Status last verified
- Feb 2025
- First submitted
- 24 Feb 2025
- Last updated
- 28 Feb 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Niemann L, von Gruner C, Zhang XC, Margraf J, Totzeck C. Positive Emotions Training (PoET) as an online intervention to improve mental health: a feasibility study. BMC Public Health. 2023 Aug 14;23(1):1543. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16424-x.
PubMed 37580658
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Feb 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Reducing Symptoms of Depression, Stress and Anxiety and Enhancing Positive Mental Health: a Randomized-controlled Study of the Positive Emotions Training
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06851637
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PoET102
- Conditions
- Positive Emotions, Mental Health, Intervention (Training) Condition, Randomized Controlled Study, General Population (no Specific Condition or Disease)
- Keywords
- positive emotions, online intervention, positive psychology, randomized controlled study, intervention, general population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 297 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ruhr University of BochumUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 3 Nov 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 4 May 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 4 May 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 28 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Based on the results of the previously published paper "Positive Emotions Training (PoET) as an online intervention to improve mental health: a feasibility study" (Niemann et al., 2023) the goal of this study was to examine the effects of the "Positive Emotions Training" on mental health in a randomized-controlled study. Furthermore, possible predictors for the efficacy of PoET are to be explored.
Hypotheses:
- It was hypothesized that participants receiving PoET would show a significant increase in positive mental health factors at the second assessment point (T2) at end of the second training day.
- Furthermore, participants receiving PoET are to be expected to show a significant decrease in depression, anxiety and stress symptoms at T2.
- It was hypothesized that the changes in mental health factors remain stable up to the last assessment point (T3) three month after the training.
- Lastly, it was hypothesized that there would be no significant changes in the positive or negative mental health factors in the control group at T2 and T3.
- The possible predictors of the training's efficacy were not hypothesized, but examined in exploratory investigations.
Methods:
The final sample was n = 207 with n = 90 in the PoET group and n = 117 in the control. The control group did not receive any intervention in the experimental period, but was offered to participate in a later PoET. The allocation was randomized. Participants in the PoET group completed two online training sessions (3 hours each) via Zoom. Group size was about 25-30 people. The sessions included the following positive psychology constructs: happiness, humour, optimism, loving kindness and gratitude on the first day, and hope, self-efficacy, meaningfulness, forgiveness and resilience on the second day. All participants completed a questionnaire at the beginning of the first training session, at the end of the second one as well as three months after the second session. Participants were given an exercise booklet for all exercises (during the training sessions and at home). The one-week break between the two sessions was advertised as a "7-day-challenge" to improve the motivation in participants to exercise at home.
Data was collected pseudonymised via "qualtrics". Data analyses were conducted with RStudio. For the possible effects of PoET on mental health two-factorial repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted. For the exploration of possible predictors for the efficacy of the training, a hierarchical regression was conducted.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| PoET group | Experimental | Behavioral: PoETParticipants of this arm received the PoET online training within two sessions. They filled out a whole of three questionnaires. |
| Control group | No intervention | –Participants did not receive any treatment initially, but were offered to participate in a later PoET training as compensation. They filled out a whole of three questionnaires. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- legal age (18), ability to use Zoom and all associated technology
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- none
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| PoETParticipants in the PoET group completed two online training sessions (3 hours each) via Zoom. Group size was about 25-30 people. The sessions included the following positive psychology constructs: happiness, humour, optimism, loving kindness and gratitude on the first day, and hope, self-efficacy, meaningfulness, forgiveness and resilience on the second day. | Behavioural | PoET group |
Primary outcome
Positive Mental Health Scale (PMH)
Time frame: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session
9 items, 4-point-scale from 0 ("I do not agree ") to 3 ("I agree"), assessing emotional and psychological aspects of wellbeing, higher scores reflect better positive mental health
Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21)
Time frame: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session
21 items, 4-point-scale from 0 ("did not apply to me at all") to 3 ("applied to me very much or most of the time"), assessing negative emotional states, higher scores reflect more symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress
7 secondary outcomes
Life Orientation Test revised (LOT-r)
Time frame: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session
Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)
Time frame: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session
Brief Resilience Scale (BRS)
Time frame: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session
Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ)
Time frame: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session
Satisfaction in different areas of life
Time frame: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session
Implementation of at-home exercices
Time frame: after 2nd training session and three months after 2nd training session
Socio-demographic data
Time frame: before 1st training session
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Feb 2025.
- Background: PubMed 37580658Niemann L, von Gruner C, Zhang XC, Margraf J, Totzeck C. Positive Emotions Training (PoET) as an online intervention to improve mental health: a feasibility study. BMC Public Health. 2023 Aug 14;23(1):1543. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16424-x.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Christina Bartnick (born Totzeck), PhD study director
Ruhr-University Bochum
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing PoET in people with Positive Emotions and Mental Health, run by Ruhr University of Bochum at 1 site in Germany.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Feb 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Germany. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Positive Mental Health Scale (PMH) (time frame: before 1st and after 2nd training session, three months after 2nd training session). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06851637, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Feb 2025.