Effects of a Relaxation and Guided Imagery Intervention in School Context

NCT ID: NCT06101225

Last Updated: 2023-11-07

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

240 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-10-09

Study Completion Date

2026-06-30

Brief Summary

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Specific aims - To test the effects of a relaxation and guided imagery intervention with socioemotional learning content on a range of socioemotional, physiological, cognitive and academic outcomes of school-aged children, measured through self-reports, neuropsychological and physiological measures, as well as teachers and parent's reports.

Detailed Description

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Background: Mental imagery has long been used in psychological therapies, but only recently has research started to provide a relevant scientific basis. Imagery interventions are inexpensive and have a body of research supporting their effectiveness on behavior change, the promotion of adaptive health outcomes, the reduction of anxiety and adherence to medical interventions in adults and children. However, literature on the relaxation and guided imagery interventions benefits for children in elementary school context is very scarce. This Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) aims to contribute to the body of research by implementing and testing the benefits of an intervention program "MindRegulation" composed of relaxation, instructions for body posture, and guided imagery with socioemotional learning (SEL), conveying adaptive beliefs about oneself, the relationships with others and the environment.

Method: The MindRegulation intervention will be developed in the classroom for 15 minutes before learning activities, three times per week, for five months, and its effects will be measured on a range of emotional, physiologic, and cognitive outcomes. Twelve classes will be randomly distributed into three conditions: (a) relaxation and guided imagery, (b) just relaxation, and (c) waitlist control. The RCT includes four data collection times: pretest, intermediate, posttest, and a six-month follow-up. The sample comprises 240 students, third and fourth graders from elementary school, between 8 and 11 years old. The variables measured in the study are: well-being, affect, anxiety, emotional regulation, socioemotional competencies, attention and processing speed, physiologic responses of arousal, stress, and well-being, and perceived benefits of the intervention. The psychometric properties of the subjective measures show they are adequate for the study population and language, except for the self-esteem scale that will be validated to the study target population.

Discussion: Improvements on the children's well-being, socioemotional regulation, cognitive function, physiologic activity and academic performance are expected after five months of MindRegulation intervention and changes on physiologic activity are expected during each MindRegulation session. Mediation effects are expected for emotional regulation, well-being and anxiety variables, from participating in the intervention in the outcome variables such as socioemotional competence, cognitive function and academic performance. Additionally, well-being and anxiety levels at pretest are expected to moderate the intervention effects.

Conditions

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Mental Health Wellness 1 Positive and Negative Affect Social Skills Happiness Self Esteem Self-Regulation, Emotion Anxiety Cognitive Change Heart Rate Variability Stress, Psychological Physical Activity

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

The RCT design includes 3 conditions to which classes (3rd and 4th graders) will be randomly allocated: the experimental group will receive MindRegulation intervention (a) relaxation and guided imagery with Socioemotional Leaning; the alternative condition group will receive relaxation intervention (b); and the waiting list control group will be involved in the regular school activities, with no intervention (c).

Interventions (a and b) will be held during 15 minutes in class, 3 school days per week, for 5 months. Data on all measures of the study will be collected at 4 data points: before the intervention (T0), during the intervention (TIntermediate); immediately after the intervention end (T1), and at follow-up (T2), 6 months after the intervention end, for the experimental (a) and alternative condition (b) groups. After follow-up, the waiting list control group will receive intervention (a), for 5 months, after which a post-intervention measurement will be performed.
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors
Data will be collected from children by independent researchers, blinded to group allocation at the three data points: before the beginning of the intervention (T0), immediately after the intervention (T1), and at follow-up (T2). In the intermediate data collection (TInt) blindness to group allocation is not possible, because data collection will be performed during the intervention. Outcome's assessors will be blinded to group assignment in all data analysis times.

Study Groups

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RegularMente Intervention

1. Relaxation exercises, breathing and closing the eyes, focusing on body parts;
2. The proposal of a guided imagery through narrated scripts, leading children through the visualization of beautiful scenarios and exposure to Social and Emotional Learning content - based on the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning framework (CASEL), in three major themes: Me with myself (self-awareness and self-management); Me with the others (social-awareness and relationships skills); Me with the world (responsible decision making and social awareness);
3. Instructions for self-regulation of body posture and the use of touch (shoulders) to support children in posture regulation.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

MindRegulation Intervention

Intervention Type OTHER

The intervention is developed in class for 15 minutes before learning activities, three times per week, for five months - 57 sessions. Six different scripts with socioemotional learning content (based on CASEL framework) for each of the three themes will be applied.

Relaxation

Relaxation exercises, breathing and closing the eyes, focusing on body parts.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Relaxation

Intervention Type OTHER

The relaxation condition will be developed in the same way as in RegularMente intervention, but without the guided imagery with SEL component. Relaxation exercises applied in class 15 minutes before learning activities, three times per week, for five months - in a total of 57 sessions.

Control

No intervention - regular school activities.

Group Type OTHER

Waiting List Control Group

Intervention Type OTHER

No Intervention.

Interventions

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MindRegulation Intervention

The intervention is developed in class for 15 minutes before learning activities, three times per week, for five months - 57 sessions. Six different scripts with socioemotional learning content (based on CASEL framework) for each of the three themes will be applied.

Intervention Type OTHER

Relaxation

The relaxation condition will be developed in the same way as in RegularMente intervention, but without the guided imagery with SEL component. Relaxation exercises applied in class 15 minutes before learning activities, three times per week, for five months - in a total of 57 sessions.

Intervention Type OTHER

Waiting List Control Group

No Intervention.

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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MindRegulation Intervention (condition a) Relaxation (condition b) Control Group (condition c)

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Attend the 3rd and 4th grade of the selected school (8-11 years-old)

Exclusion Criteria

* The participant classes have benefited from the RegularMind intervention previously;
* Not being able to provide self-report due to intellectual, physical or sensory disabilities.
Minimum Eligible Age

7 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

12 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

ISCTE-IUL

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

ISAMB - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Technical University of Lisbon

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Universidade Católica Portuguesa

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Universidade Nova de Lisboa

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Iolanda Costa Galinha

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Iolanda C. Galinha, Phd

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa

Locations

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Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa

Lisbon, , Portugal

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Portugal

Central Contacts

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Iolanda C. Galinha, Phd

Role: CONTACT

Cristina Dias, Phd

Role: CONTACT

00351213177644

Facility Contacts

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Iolanda C. Galinha, PhD

Role: primary

Ana Cristina Oliveira, Master

Role: backup

+351 926 312 849

References

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Goodman R. Psychometric properties of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2001 Nov;40(11):1337-45. doi: 10.1097/00004583-200111000-00015.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11699809 (View on PubMed)

Gullone E, Taffe J. The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (ERQ-CA): a psychometric evaluation. Psychol Assess. 2012 Jun;24(2):409-17. doi: 10.1037/a0025777. Epub 2011 Oct 24.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22023559 (View on PubMed)

Harris MA, Donnellan MB, Trzesniewski KH. The Lifespan Self-Esteem Scale: Initial Validation of a New Measure of Global Self-Esteem. J Pers Assess. 2018 Jan-Feb;100(1):84-95. doi: 10.1080/00223891.2016.1278380. Epub 2017 Feb 21.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28631973 (View on PubMed)

Holder MD, Klassen A. Temperament and happiness in children. J Happiness Stud [Internet]. 2010;11(4):419-39. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9149-2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Keyes CL. Mental health in adolescence: is America's youth flourishing? Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2006 Jul;76(3):395-402. doi: 10.1037/0002-9432.76.3.395.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16981819 (View on PubMed)

Mather M, Thayer J. How heart rate variability affects emotion regulation brain networks. Curr Opin Behav Sci. 2018 Feb;19:98-104. doi: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2017.12.017.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29333483 (View on PubMed)

Spielberger CD, Edwards CD, Lushene RE, Montuori J, Platzek D. The state-trait anxiety inventory for children (preliminary manual). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press; 1973.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Wechsler D. Escala de Inteligência de Wechsler para Crianças - Terceira Edição. Lisboa: Cegoc; 2003.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Brickenkamp, R., & Zilmer, E. d2 Test of Attention (d2) [Database record]. APA PsycTests. 1998. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1037/t03299-000

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Carvalho JS, Pereira S, Marques-Pinto N, Marôco A. Psychometric properties of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form: A study of Portuguese speaking children/youths. Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2016;25(7):2141-54.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Coelho VA, Sousa V, Marchante M. Social and Emotional Competencies Evaluation Questionnaire-Teacher's Version: Validation of a Short Form. Psychol Rep. 2016 Aug;119(1):221-36. doi: 10.1177/0033294116656617. Epub 2016 Jun 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27356548 (View on PubMed)

Coelho VA, Sousa V. Validação do questionário de avaliação de competências socioemocionais para alunos de 1o e 2o ciclo do ensino básico. Int J Dev Educ Psychol Rev INFAD psicol. 2020;2(1):431-40.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

de Carvalho JS, Pinto AM, Marôco J. Results of a mindfulness-based social-emotional learning program on Portuguese elementary students and teachers: A quasi-experimental study. Mindfulness (N Y) [Internet]. 2017;8(2):337-50. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0603-z.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Dias P, Gonçalves MS-C-C. Avaliação da ansiedade e da depressão em crianças e adolescentes (STAI-C-C2, CMAS-R, FSSC-R e CDI): Estudo normativo para a população portuguesa. In: Soares AP, Araújo S, Caires S, editors. Avaliação da ansiedade e da depressão em crianças e adolescentes. 1999. p. 553-64.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Galinha IC, de Carvalho JLDCS, de Oliveira ACP, Arriaga P, Gaspar AD, Silva HP, Ortega V. MindRegulation-SEL: randomized controlled trial of the effects of a relaxation and guided imagery intervention with socioemotional learning on the psychological and biophysiological well-being, socioemotional development, cognitive function and academic achievement of elementary school children. Trials. 2025 Jun 3;26(1):187. doi: 10.1186/s13063-025-08899-3.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40462190 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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MindRegulation BIAL212/22

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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