Group Exposure Workshops for Socially Anxious Undergraduates

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, BOULDER · Nov 1, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effects of different workshops designed to help undergraduate students at the University of Colorado Boulder who experience social anxiety and fear of public speaking. The goal is to see how these workshops can help students manage their anxiety in social situations and improve their public speaking skills. If you're between the ages of 18 and 30, currently enrolled as an undergraduate at CU, and feeling anxious in social situations or when speaking in front of others, you might be eligible to participate.

Participants in the study will take part in a total of four workshops over about 8 weeks, with each session lasting 2 to 3 hours. Before and after the workshops, you will fill out some questionnaires to share your experiences and how you feel about your anxiety. There will also be a follow-up questionnaire a month later. This study aims to create a supportive environment where students can learn to cope with their anxiety together. If you're interested in getting help for your social anxiety and want to be part of this supportive group, this could be a great opportunity!

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age = 18-30
• • Able to read and write fluently in English
• • Current undergraduate students at CU
• • Experiencing elevated social anxiety symptoms indicated by a SPIN score ≥ 19
• • Experiencing moderate to high communication anxiety indicated by a PRCA- 24 score ≥ 59
• • Open to receiving help for social anxiety or public speaking fears indicated by a help seeking score of ≥ 3 out of 5 (at both screening timepoints as explained below)
• • Able to voluntarily consent to participation
• • Able to participate fully in the study (including in the in-person group workshops and in survey completion) as assessed by screening questions and the study P
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Are currently experiencing moderately severe or severe depression represented by the validated cutoff score for major depression on the PHQ-8 of greater than 14 (Kroenke et al., 2001)
• • Score in the moderate-high range for suicide risk as indicated by the CSSRS (Salvi, 2019), report a suicide attempt in the past 12 months, or report current, ongoing suicidal ideation along with a past (lifetime) suicide attempt
• • Are current students of the PI or clients or current students of the doctoral student co-facilitators