Caregiver Mind-Mindedness Training to Alleviate Social Anxiety in Children

NCT ID: NCT06657014

Last Updated: 2024-10-24

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

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-11-01

Study Completion Date

2025-04-30

Brief Summary

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This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate the efficacy of Mind-Mindedness (MM) training for caregivers as an early intervention for preschool-aged children (4 to 7 years) exhibiting signs of social anxiety. The study posits that enhancing caregivers' ability to recognize and respond to their children's thoughts, feelings, and intentions-termed Mind-Mindedness-can foster secure attachments and improve socioemotional outcomes for children.

A total of 100 primary caregivers will be recruited from the United Kingdom and Iran, with participants randomly assigned to either an MM training intervention group or a peer support control group. The MM training will consist of three online sessions, each lasting one hour, focusing on strategies for implementing mind-minded comments and enhancing emotional understanding. The peer support group will provide caregivers with an online platform for sharing experiences related to their child's anxiety without receiving structured training.

Assessments of Mind-Mindedness, child social anxiety, attachment, and theory of mind will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and three months after the intervention using validated measures. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of MM training in reducing social anxiety symptoms in children while examining the potential mediating roles of attachment and theory of mind in this relationship.

By incorporating a cross-cultural approach, this research will contribute to understanding the influence of cultural contexts on the effectiveness of caregiver interventions. The anticipated findings could establish MM training as a valuable strategy for mitigating social anxiety in preschoolers and inform future clinical practices aimed at enhancing caregiver-child interactions.

Detailed Description

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This study aims to explore a new approach to support preschool children (ages 4 to 7) who struggle with social anxiety. The investigators believe that when caregivers, such as parents, understand and respond more effectively to their child's feelings and thoughts, it can help the child feel more secure and less anxious in social situations.

To test this idea, the investigators are inviting 100 caregivers from the UK and Iran to participate in our research. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups: one group will receive special training called Mind-Mindedness training, which consists of three online sessions designed to teach caregivers techniques for better understanding their child's emotions. The other group will participate in a peer support group where participants can share experiences with other caregivers, this group will not receive the training.

The investigators will assess the children's social anxiety before the training, immediately after it, and three months later to determine if the training has a positive impact. This study aims to demonstrate how enhancing caregiver awareness of their child's feelings can reduce anxiety and help children interact more confidently with others.

Conditions

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Social Anxiety Disorder of Childhood

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

The Mind-Mindedness Training group will participate in three structured online sessions aimed at enhancing caregivers' ability to recognize and respond to their child's thoughts and feelings. This training seeks to improve caregivers' mentalization, which may help reduce social anxiety symptoms in children. Meanwhile, the Peer Support group will have access to a private online platform where caregivers can share experiences and coping strategies, creating a supportive environment without the structured intervention.

Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and during a three-month follow-up to assess changes in mind-mindedness, child social anxiety, attachment styles, and theory of mind. This parallel assignment model enables an effective evaluation of the intervention's impact on the target population while controlling for external variables through random assignment.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Mind-Mindedness Training Group

The Mind-Mindedness Training Group will involve 50 caregivers of preschool-aged children (ages 4 to 7) with social anxiety. Participants will attend three one-hour online sessions over three consecutive weeks.

The training focuses on enhancing caregivers' ability to recognize and respond to their children's thoughts and emotions. Each session includes:

* Session 1:\*\* Introduction to mind-mindedness, its importance, and caregiver roles in managing social anxiety.
* Session 2:\*\* Practical strategies for emotion coaching, including role-play exercises.
* Session 3:\*\* Advanced strategies addressing common challenges, with discussions and video examples.

Participants will receive materials to support their learning. Effectiveness will be assessed through evaluations of mind-mindedness, child social anxiety, and related areas at baseline, post-intervention, and three months later.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

mind-mindedness

Intervention Type OTHER

The Mind-Mindedness Training Intervention is a structured program designed specifically for primary caregivers of preschool-aged children (ages 4 to 7) who exhibit signs of social anxiety. This intervention is unique because it focuses on enhancing caregivers' understanding and responsiveness to their children's emotional and mental states through the concept of mind-mindedness.

Peer Support Control Group

The Peer Support Control Group will consist of 50 primary caregivers of preschool-aged children (ages 4 to 7) exhibiting signs of social anxiety. Participants will not receive Mind-Mindedness training but will have access to a private online peer support platform.

This group aims to provide a supportive environment for caregivers to share experiences, concerns, and coping strategies. Key features include:

Peer Support Platform:A moderated online group for discussions and emotional support among caregivers.

Resource Sharing: Opportunities for caregivers to share helpful articles, tips, and resources.

Facilitated Discussions: Occasional prompts to encourage conversations about common challenges.

Participants will complete assessments of mind-mindedness, social anxiety, attachment, and theory of mind at baseline, post-intervention, and three months later, similar to the Mind-Mindedness Training Group. This control group allows for comparisons of the effectiveness

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

mind-mindedness

Intervention Type OTHER

The Mind-Mindedness Training Intervention is a structured program designed specifically for primary caregivers of preschool-aged children (ages 4 to 7) who exhibit signs of social anxiety. This intervention is unique because it focuses on enhancing caregivers' understanding and responsiveness to their children's emotional and mental states through the concept of mind-mindedness.

Interventions

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mind-mindedness

The Mind-Mindedness Training Intervention is a structured program designed specifically for primary caregivers of preschool-aged children (ages 4 to 7) who exhibit signs of social anxiety. This intervention is unique because it focuses on enhancing caregivers' understanding and responsiveness to their children's emotional and mental states through the concept of mind-mindedness.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Primary Caregiver Status: Participants must be the primary caregiver of a child aged 4 to 7 years.

Age of Caregiver: Caregivers must be between 18 and 60 years old. Geographical Location: Caregivers must reside in either the United Kingdom or Iran.

Social Anxiety Symptoms: Children must exhibit observable signs of social anxiety, which will be confirmed through a standardized screening tool.

Exclusion Criteria

* Clinical Diagnosis: Children with a clinical diagnosis of another psychiatric disorder (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, ADHD) will be excluded.

Concurrent Support: Caregivers of children who are currently receiving any other form of psychological support or treatment for social anxiety will be excluded.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Heriot-Watt University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Hiva Javadian

Doctoral Researcher

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Daniel Hale, Asst. Prof.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Herriot Watt University

Locations

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Heriot watt

Edinburgh, , United Kingdom

Site Status

Countries

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United Kingdom

Central Contacts

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Hiva Javadian Javadian, PhD

Role: CONTACT

07456927219

Daniel Hale Hale, Asst. Prof.

Role: CONTACT

07456927219

Facility Contacts

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Daniel Hale, Asst. Prof.

Role: primary

07456927219

Hiva Javadian, PhD Res

Role: backup

07456927219

References

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Javadian H, Stewart ME, Mathews M, Williams AJ, Hale D. Caregiver mind-mindedness training as an early intervention for social anxiety in children: A protocol for a randomised controlled trial. PLoS One. 2025 Sep 22;20(9):e0315150. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315150. eCollection 2025.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40982456 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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Heriot watt university

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

MM-SOCIALANXIETY-2024

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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