Abstract
This protocol describes a study that will test the effectiveness of a 7-week non-clinical digital coaching intervention to promote self-control. The goal of the coaching is to support and guide people who are willing and motivated to improve their self-control with the help of the smartphone application MindHike. The coaching is based on a process model of self-control and aims to target five groups of self-control strategies. The goal of the study is to examine the effectiveness of the digital coaching intervention. A single-arm study design with pre-test, post-test and 2-month follow-up assessments and process assessments will be used to evaluate the 7-week digital coaching intervention. The digital coaching includes 49 daily lessons that are organized along 7 weekly core themes. Study participants will be at least 150 adults aged 18 years and older who are willing and motivated to improve their self-control using the MindHike application. This is the first study testing the effectiveness of a digital coaching intervention to promote self-control. Given that this approach proves effective, it could be easily implemented in various non-clinical settings such as education, health, relationship, and work, and in clinical settings. Due to its digital low-threshold character, it could also reach large numbers of people.
Highlights
Self-control is the ability to suppress or control impulsive actions, emotions, and desires in favor of desired alternatives
Interventions are a promising avenue for promoting self-control and may help to contribute to various positive outcomes. This protocol describes the rationale and content of a digital coaching application to promote selfcontrol as well as a study to examine the effectiveness of this app-based coaching
The coaching intervention is strongly based on the process model of self-control [5]
Summary
Self-control is the ability to suppress or control impulsive actions, emotions, and desires in favor of desired alternatives. The cycle starts with a specific situation, moves on to attentional deployment, followed by appraisal of the situation, and ends with a response tendency This model organizes self-control strategies in five groups by considering the timeline of the developing tempting impulse. At the final stage of impulse generation, (e) response modulation strategies refer to intentionally suppress undesirable impulses or amplify desirable ones [see Duckworth et al [5] for more details] This process model served as a conceptual guideline for the development of the coaching intervention components to promote self-control. The intervention should teach how to practice new behaviors Another recent article describes several ways to promote selfcontrol in children and adolescents including simple strategies that help to create habits and reduce conflicts with competing temptations [21]. Almost all applications do not meet scientific criteria and their effectiveness has not been systematically tested
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