The Effects of Psycho-educational Training in Undergraduate Students at the University of Granada (Spain)

Summary

The new professional profiles highlight the need to incorporate competences such as self-regulation, communication or growth mindset in the academia. Not only is this important for employability; we need to take a step further and equip learners with knowledge, skills and attitudes that help them become agents of change and shape sustainable futures in our current complex society.

Within the framework of an agreement signed between the University of Granada (UGR), Spain, and, one of the leading real state firms in Spain, Cívitas, a course and a parallel study have been launched that will provide research and training in these competences at a degree level. It is part of the Sustainable Human Development Training Pathway of the Vice-Rectorate for Equality, Inclusion and Sustainability, and 3 ECTS will be accredited for the completion of any of the UGR official degrees.

The main objective of the study is to test whether participating in a competence-based course can improve students' cognitive, emotional and personal traits as well as academic performance. Together with this main purpose, the present study also aims to compare the effects of two competence-based programs on the students' ability to improve specific aspects of cognition, emotional intelligence, creativity or academic performance among others. Both programs involve training sustained attention and an accepting and open attitude though they differ in several aspects of their methods, intention and aims.

Drawing conclusions from the research and outcomes, pedagogies which are best suited to develop theses competences at the Higher Education level will be suggested. Assessment and certification of this kind of competences will also be proposed.

Conditions

• Empathy
• Compassion
• Attention
• Psychological Distress
• Life Stress
• Anxiety
• Creativity
• Emotional Intelligence

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

The MBSR program

The MBSR program is a group-based therapy which teaches mindfulness skills through a range of formal and informal mindfulness practices. Created by Kabat-Zinn (1982), in the current study it is taught by an officially accredited instructor and is compliant with the guidelines established by Brown University and the University of Massachusetts, USA. It originally consists of 8 weekly classes, 2 hours each (18 hours direct instruction), together with a day of intensive practice. The program is structured along the following topics: The Underpinnings of MBSR; The Perception of Reality; Power in Being Present; Understanding Stress: The Mind-Body Relation; Responding to Stress; Communication and Personal Relations; Daily Life Management; My Personal Plan: "What lies ahead".

BEHAVIORAL

Más Presente, the UGRComp program

Más Presente, the UGRComp program is based upon the European LifeComp framework (Sala, Punie, Garkov and Cabrera Giraldez 2020) and covers intra and interpersonal, emotional, cognitive and metacognitive aspects. Created at the University of Granada by an interdisciplinary group of experts, it focuses on three core elements (self-regulation, empathy and growth mindset) as they are the pre-requisites for developing all other elements across framework areas. It consists of 8 weekly classes, 2 hours each, together with a day of intensive practice. The program is structured along the following topics: The Underpinnings of Más Presente; Awareness and Concentration: our Body; Managing our Emotional Laberynth; Walking with Directionality, Sense and Conscience; Empathy, Presence and Connection; Empathic Listening and Honest Expression: Non-violent communication; Growth Mindset, Creativity and Divergent Thinking; And Now what? The First Day of the Rest of My Life.

OTHER

Neuro-muscular stimulation

Subjects will receive weekly sessions with a combination of educational sessions and specific physical exercises to enhance physical wellbeing and prevent neuro-degeneration . After spotting the therapeutic targets for each subject, a 4-phase program will be designed for each subject aimed at improving lifestyle habits and general wellbeing.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cívitas-UGR Chair: Sustainability, Innovation and Development, Granada, Spain

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Teryos Functional Clinical Medicine, Granada, Spain

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Mercedes García de Quesada

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mercedes García de Quesada, PhD · Universidad de Granada

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-10-20

Primary Completion

2022-12-31

Completion

2022-12-31

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations