JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Compassion-based interventions delivered over the Internet are showing promising results for the promotion of psychological health and well-being. Several studies have highlighted their feasibility, acceptance and preliminary efficacy. However, this is an incipient field of research, and to the best of our knowledge, there is no data available from Spanish-speaking countries.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility, acceptance and preliminary efficacy of Internet Attachment-Based Therapy (iABCT), an online version of attachment-based compassion therapy (ABCT), in Spanish speakers from the general population.

Methods:

This feasibility study features a single-arm, uncontrolled and within-group design with an embedded qualitative and quantitative process evaluation at baseline, immediately after the intervention and at 3-month follow-up. A minimum of 35 participants from the general population will be allocated to iABCT. Feasibility measures will include attrition rate, patterns of use of the web-based system, participants’ acceptability (Expectations and Satisfaction Questionnaires), usability (The Usability and Acceptability Questionnaire) and opinion (qualitative opinion interview). Psychological and mental health outcomes will assess well-being (Pemberton Happiness Index, PHI), compassion (The Compassion Scale), self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale, SCS-26), self-criticism (Forms of Self-Criticizing/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale-Short form, FSCRS-SF), dispositional mindfulness (Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire, FFMQ-15), attachment styles (the Relationships Questionnaire, RQ), general mental health status (the General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-12), non-attachment (Non-Attachment Scale, NAS-7), positive and negative affect (International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form, I-PANAS-SF), purpose in life (The Purpose-In-Life Test, PIL-10) and difficulties regarding the practice of compassion (Compassion Practice Quality Questionnaire). Quantitative and qualitative analyses are planned.

Results:

Not yet recruiting. The Internet-based intervention programme is under construction. Recruitment is due to commence in January 2020.

Conclusions:

To our knowledge, the present study will, for the first time, show data on the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary evidence of online compassion (and self-compassion) training – i.e. the adapted iACBT – in Spanish-speaking countries from the general population. Further aspects of their implementation (i.e. facilitators, barriers and unwanted effects) and mechanisms of change will be investigated. This study will allow the revision and fine-tuning of the developed intervention, study design and planning procedures, as well, powering a future randomized controlled trial. Clinical Trial: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03918746. Registered on April 17, 2019.