Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Mindset Intervention for Depression and Immune Dysregulation, United States, 2022-2023 (ICPSR 39316)
Version Date: Sep 11, 2025 View help for published
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Jesse Barrera, Stanford University;
Lexi Straube, Stanford University;
Zoë Huml, Stanford University;
Rachael Yielder, University of Auckland;
Sean Zion, Stanford University;
Kris Evans, Stanford University;
Kengthsagn Louis, Boston College;
Chiara Gasteiger, University of Auckland;
Daniel Moriarity, University of Pennsylvania;
George Slavich, University of California-Los Angeles
https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR39316.v1
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People who live through large-scale societal catastrophes such as the COVID-19 pandemic are at a heightened risk of mental illness in the years afterward, but can also experience positive changes in their sense of meaning, personal relationships, and self-esteem, among other domains. The researchers propose that differences in these mental health trajectories may be partially influenced by individuals' mindsets about the long-term effects of living through catastrophes. To test this possibility, the researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial of a brief, psychologically-wise intervention designed to promote the mindset that "catastrophes can be opportunities in the long-term." A sample of 548 adults were randomized to either the mindset intervention condition or a control task.
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Participants were recruited in the context of a larger longitudinal survey study examining the influence of mindsets on health and well-being over the course of the pandemic*. Individuals who completed all four longitudinal surveys and indicated an interest in future research were recruited from October 10th - 15th, 2022.
*For a detailed description of this longitudinal survey study, see:
Zion, S. R., Louis, K., Horii, R., Leibowitz, K., Heathcote, L. C., & Crum, A. J. (2022). Making sense of a pandemic: Mindsets influence emotions, behaviors, health, and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social science & medicine (1982), 301, 114889.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114889
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American adults living through the COVID-19 pandemic.
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3560 individuals were invited to complete the participant interest form. Of these, 1148 (32%) indicated a desire to participate and met the prescreening criteria. 548 participants successfully completed the baseline survey and blood sample and were randomized. 379 completed their assigned intervention/control tasks and were included in the final analysis.
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- Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory - Current Standing (C-PTGI)
- Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ)
- Brief Resilience Scale (BRS)
- Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS)
- 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4)
- Mental Health Condition - Short Form (MHC-SF): Social Well-Being Subscale
- Stress Mindset Measure (SMM)
- 6-item Primals Inventory (PI-6)
- New General Self-Efficacy Scale
- Coronavirus Impact Scale