A randomized controlled trial of an Internet-based emotion regulation intervention for sexual health: study protocol

Vinicius Jobim Fischer; Gerhard Andersson; Joël Billieux; Claus Vögele

doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05586-x

A randomized controlled trial of an Internet-based emotion regulation intervention for sexual health: study protocol

Trials. 2021 Oct 15;22(1):706. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05586-x.

Authors

Vinicius Jobim Fischer¹, Gerhard Andersson², Joël Billieux³, Claus Vögele⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Health and Behaviour, Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg - Campus Belval, 11, Porte des Sciences, L-4366 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, Sweden. vinicius.fischer@uni.lu.
² Department of Behavioural Science and Learning, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83, Linköping, Sweden.
³ Cognitive and Affective Regulation Lab (CARLA), Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, uartier UNIL-Mouline - Bâtiment Géopolis - Bureau 4240, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁴ Institute for Health and Behaviour, Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg - Campus Belval, 11, Porte des Sciences, L-4366 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, Sweden.

Abstract

Introduction: Emotion regulation difficulties have been associated with mental disorders and sexual dysfunctions. Traditional face-to-face transdiagnostic emotion regulation interventions have shown positive results for emotional and personality disorders. Only recently have the effects of these interventions on sexual health started to be investigated. Internet-delivered psychological interventions have several advantages over face-to-face interventions, such as cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and suitability for people who experience shame because of their stigmatized problematic behaviors and those who avoid seeking help. The aims of the SHER 2-TREpS (Portuguese acronym for Emotion Regulation training for sexual health) project are as follows: (a) determine the efficacy of an Internet-based emotion regulation intervention for sexual health and sexual satisfaction and (b) explore the effects of the intervention on (1) emotion regulation skills, (2) mental health, and (3) sexual self-perception.

Methods and analysis: The study will use a randomized controlled trial design. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups: intervention (Internet-based emotion regulation training) or waitlist control. Assessments will take place before the start of the trial, at the end of the trial, and at 6-month follow up, after which participants assigned to the waitlist control condition will receive the same intervention. Primary outcomes include sexual function and satisfaction and secondary outcomes self-report measures of depression, anxiety, difficulties in emotion regulation, and sexual self-perception. This intervention study is financed by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNS).

Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Review Panel of the University of Luxembourg. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Keywords: Emotion regulation; Internet intervention; Protocol; Randomized controlled trial; Sexual health.

Publication types

Clinical Trial Protocol

MeSH terms

Anxiety Disorders
Emotional Regulation*
Humans
Internet
Internet-Based Intervention*
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Sexual Health*
Treatment Outcome

Grants and funding

AFR17 - 11606105/Fonds National de la Recherche Luxembourg