Meta Self-Efficacy Internet Intervention to Support Occupational Health in Young Employees: Protocol for Co-Creation and a Randomized Controlled Trial

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cris.lastimport.scopus2026-01-14T04:10:16Z
dc.abstract.enBackground: Supporting young employees as they navigate the changing workplace requires focus on personal resources. Although self-efficacy is a key and malleable resource, its context specificity limits its applicability. To address this, we propose to target meta self-efficacy, a construct reflecting an individual’s ability to leverage self-efficacy sources (mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, persuasion, and affective and physiological states) to build self-efficacy specific to any challenge and, in turn, safeguard their occupational health. Objective: The goal of this study is to co-create (co-creation phase) and verify the efficacy (randomized controlled trial [RCT] phase) of an internet intervention enhancing meta self-efficacy to support the occupational health of young employees. Methods: The co-creation phase will be based on the participatory approach principle and comprise 4 focus groups, where a total of 24 participants will contribute to meta self-efficacy–enhancing activities and identify needs for the intervention format. After each focus group, a preliminary qualitative analysis will be conducted, and the intervention draft will be refined. To detect an effect size of d=0.25, the RCT will use a 2-arm parallel design with a total sample size of 600 comparing the meta self-efficacy intervention against a placebo. Assessments will be conducted at the posttest time point and 3- and 6-month follow-ups, with work self-efficacy as the primary outcome and job stress, job affective well-being, and work capabilities as secondary outcomes, as well as meta self-efficacy as the manipulation check. Data will be analyzed using linear mixed-effects models following the intention-to-treat approach. The trial will also examine the impact of adherence and engagement on intervention outcomes and compare treatment credibility. Results: As of November 20, 2025, a total of 24 participants have been recruited, with 3 of 4 focus groups conducted and the final one to be completed by the end of 2025. RCT recruitment is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2026, with the last follow-up expected by the end of 2026. Conclusions: In comparison to the placebo control, we expect the intervention to significantly improve young employees’ work self-efficacy (primary outcome) and occupational well-being (secondary outcomes). If effective, the meta self-efficacy–enhancing intervention could bolster the ability to cope with various challenges in the health domain and beyond, extending the effect beyond the initial occupational context
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.affiliationWydział Projektowania w Warszawie
dc.contributor.authorMaciejewski, Jan
dc.contributor.authorCieślak, Roman
dc.contributor.authorCarlbring, Per
dc.contributor.authorSmoktunowicz, Ewelina
dc.date.access2025-12-23
dc.date.accessioned2026-01-13T12:27:34Z
dc.date.available2026-01-13T12:27:34Z
dc.date.created2025-11-26
dc.date.issued2025-12-23
dc.description.abstract<jats:sec> <jats:title>Background</jats:title> <jats:p>Supporting young employees as they navigate the changing workplace requires focus on personal resources. Although self-efficacy is a key and malleable resource, its context specificity limits its applicability. To address this, we propose to target meta self-efficacy, a construct reflecting an individual’s ability to leverage self-efficacy sources (mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, persuasion, and affective and physiological states) to build self-efficacy specific to any challenge and, in turn, safeguard their occupational health.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Objective</jats:title> <jats:p>The goal of this study is to co-create (co-creation phase) and verify the efficacy (randomized controlled trial [RCT] phase) of an internet intervention enhancing meta self-efficacy to support the occupational health of young employees.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>The co-creation phase will be based on the participatory approach principle and comprise 4 focus groups, where a total of 24 participants will contribute to meta self-efficacy–enhancing activities and identify needs for the intervention format. After each focus group, a preliminary qualitative analysis will be conducted, and the intervention draft will be refined. To detect an effect size of d=0.25, the RCT will use a 2-arm parallel design with a total sample size of 600 comparing the meta self-efficacy intervention against a placebo. Assessments will be conducted at the posttest time point and 3- and 6-month follow-ups, with work self-efficacy as the primary outcome and job stress, job affective well-being, and work capabilities as secondary outcomes, as well as meta self-efficacy as the manipulation check. Data will be analyzed using linear mixed-effects models following the intention-to-treat approach. The trial will also examine the impact of adherence and engagement on intervention outcomes and compare treatment credibility.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>As of November 20, 2025, a total of 24 participants have been recruited, with 3 of 4 focus groups conducted and the final one to be completed by the end of 2025. RCT recruitment is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2026, with the last follow-up expected by the end of 2026.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>In comparison to the placebo control, we expect the intervention to significantly improve young employees’ work self-efficacy (primary outcome) and occupational well-being (secondary outcomes). If effective, the meta self-efficacy–enhancing intervention could bolster the ability to cope with various challenges in the health domain and beyond, extending the effect beyond the initial occupational context.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Trial Registration</jats:title> <jats:p>ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06944990; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06944990</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)</jats:title> <jats:p>PRR1-10.2196/85082</jats:p> </jats:sec>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.physical1-12
dc.description.sdgGoodHealthAndWellBeing
dc.description.sdgDecentWorkAndEconomicGrowth
dc.description.sdgReducedInequalities
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume14
dc.identifier.doi10.2196/85082
dc.identifier.issn1929-0748
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2140
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e85082
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.enmeta self-efficacy
dc.subject.enyoung employees
dc.subject.eninternet intervention
dc.subject.enwork self-efficacy
dc.subject.enoccupational health
dc.subject.ensustainable employability
dc.subject.enjob stress
dc.swps.sciencecloudsend
dc.titleMeta Self-Efficacy Internet Intervention to Support Occupational Health in Young Employees: Protocol for Co-Creation and a Randomized Controlled Trial
dc.title.journalJMIR Research Protocols
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle