NCT06673407 · University of Colorado, Boulder
Group Exposure Workshops for Socially Anxious Undergraduates
(OASIS)
What this study is about
The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of four versions of a workshop for social anxiety and public speaking stress. All participants are current University of Colorado Boulder undergraduate students.
View original scientific description
The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of four versions of a workshop for social anxiety and public speaking stress. All participants are current University of Colorado Boulder undergraduate students. Participation in this research study lasts for approximately 8 weeks, and includes a pre-workshop questionnaire, 3 weekly workshop sessions (ranging from 2 to 3 hours each, including a 5-minute post-session questionnaire), a post-workshop questionnaire, and a 1-month follow-up questionnaire.
Interventions
BEHAVIORAL
Group Exposure for Social Anxiety
Group exposure therapy for social anxiety and public speaking fears.
BEHAVIORAL
Self-Compassion Enhanced Group Exposure Therapy for Social Anxiety
Group exposure therapy for social anxiety and public speaking fears plus piloted exercises from the investigators' previous studies among socially anxious undergraduates (Slivjak et al., 2022; Slivjak \& Arch, in preparation), refined during the investigators' quality improvement project, that are designed to enhance compassion.
BEHAVIORAL
Peer-Enhanced Group Exposure Therapy for Social Anxiety
Group exposure therapy for social anxiety and public speaking fears facilitated by a pair of doctoral student and undergraduate student co-facilitators who explicitly use appropriate self-disclosure to establish the co-facilitators as individuals with lived experiences of social anxiety and public speaking fears.
BEHAVIORAL
Peer and Self-Compassion Enhanced Group Exposure Therapy for Social Anxiety
Group exposure therapy for social anxiety and public speaking fears plus piloted exercises from the investigators' previous studies among socially anxious undergraduates (Slivjak et al., 2022; Slivjak \& Arch, in preparation), refined during the investigators' quality improvement project, that are designed to enhance compassion. These groups are facilitated by a pair of doctoral student and undergraduate student co-facilitators who explicitly use appropriate self-disclosure to establish the co-facilitators as individuals with lived experiences of social anxiety and public speaking fears.
Primary outcome measures
Attendance rate
Time frame: 3 weeks during the intervention (workshops 1, 2, and 3, 1 week apart)
Average number of workshop sessions attended by enrolled research participants.
Enrollment rate
Time frame: Pre-intervention (from screening to enrollment)
Ratio of screened, eligible participants who enrolled in the study.
Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM)
Time frame: 48 hours after the final intervention session and 1-month follow-up
Workshop satisfaction rating, Range = 1 - 5, Higher scores indicate better outcome (greater acceptability)
Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8)
Time frame: 48 hours after the final intervention session and 1-month follow-up
Satisfaction with workshops, Range = 8 - 32, Higher scores indicate better outcome (greater satisfaction)
Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)
Time frame: 48 hours after the final intervention session and 1-month follow-up
Social anxiety symptom measure, Range = 0 - 68, Higher scores indicate worse outcome (worse social phobia)
Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS)
Time frame: 48 hours after the final intervention session and 1-month follow-up
Measure assessing fear/anxiety across a broad range of social and performance situations, Range = 0 - 144, Higher scores indicate worse outcome (worse social anxiety)
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
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
Where
- Boulder, Colorado
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced May 20, 2025 · Source of record for eligibility and locations