Mindful and well: The effects of a socioemotional competence training (SECT) in a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

Many psychological interventions are designed to address specific characteristics of socioemotional functioning. This randomized controlled trial innovatively examined to what extent effects of such an intervention generalize to broader domains. The new socioemotional competence training (SECT), designed to improve social and emotional functioning and well-being in healthy adults, consists of eight weekly 2-hr sessions and was conducted in three cohorts. We collected data on both specific outcomes that were directly targeted during the training (i.e., mindfulness, perceived stress) and broader psychological indicators of emotional and social functioning (e.g., self-compassion, empathy, perspective taking, well-being) before, during, and after the training, with follow-ups after 3 and 12 months. Participants were 166 young (19-39 years, M = 28.16, SD = 4.7) and older (50-78 years, M = 63.55, SD = 7.2) healthy German adults (75.2% female). Of these, 73 and 54 participants were randomly allocated to the socioemotional competence training or to a waitlist control group, respectively. Thirty-nine participants were allocated to the last training cohort. Results of the mixed effects models showed significant Group-by-Time effects on mindfulness (b = 0.28, 95% CI [0.16, 0.40]), perceived stress (b = -0.36, 95% CI [-0.56, -0.16]), and well-being (b = 0.43, 95% CI [0.09, 0.78]), but no meaningful effects on the other broader outcomes. Training effects were stable across 3- to 12-months follow-up. The socioemotional competence training yielded specific improvements in characteristics that were explicitly and consistently addressed throughout the training. This underscores the importance of tailored interventions in promoting specific aspects of socioemotional well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).