Caregiver Mind-Mindedness Training to Alleviate Social Anxiety in Children

Официальное название

Caregiver Mind-Mindedness Training as an Early Intervention for Reducing Social Anxiety in Preschool-Aged Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Обзор

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.

Подробное описание

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.

Вмешательства

• Другое 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.

Первичные конечные точки

• Child Social Anxiety Levels [Срок оценки: Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up]

Вторичные конечные точки (1)

• Mind-Mindedness of Caregivers [Срок оценки: Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up.]

Критерии участия

Критерии включения

• 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.

Критерии исключения

• 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.

Критерии приведены из реестра в оригинале (на английском). Окончательную оценку соответствия проводит исследовательский центр.

Здоровые добровольцы: Да

Дизайн исследования

Распределение

Рандомизированное

Модель

Параллельные группы

Маскирование

Открытое

Основная цель

Лечение

Центры проведения

Великобритания · 1 центр

• Heriot watt — Edinburgh

Публикации

• 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. PMID 40982456

Идентификаторы

NCT: NCT06657014 · MM-SOCIALANXIETY-2024 · Heriot watt university

Первоисточники (государственные реестры)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (NIH, США)

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