The Effect of Online Stoic Training on Callous‐Unemotional Traits and Self‐Compassion in Nursing Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Educational interventions grounded in psychological principles are necessary to mitigate callous‐unemotional traits, promote self‐compassion, and improve emotional regulation among nursing students. This study investigated the impact of Stoic training on callous‐unemotional traits and self‐compassion in this population.

Methods

This randomized controlled trial involved 74 undergraduate nursing students from the Birjand University of Medical Sciences, recruited via convenience sampling, and randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received eight half‐hour podcasts on Stoicism. The control group received no intervention. Both groups completed the Inventory of Callous‐Unemotional Traits and the Self‐Compassion Scale before and 1 month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using chi‐squared, t ‐test, and Mann–Whitney U tests in SPSS 23, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.

Results

While the mean callous‐unemotional score decreased and the mean self‐compassion score increased in the intervention group postintervention compared to preintervention, these changes were not statistically significant ( p > 0.05). Furthermore, compared to the control group, the Stoic training showed no significant effect on either callous‐unemotional traits ( p = 0.56) or self‐compassion ( p = 0.29) in nursing students of the intervention group.

Conclusion

This brief podcast‐based online Stoic training did not produce statistically significant changes in callous‐unemotional traits or self‐compassion. As Stoicism was not directly measured, it remains unclear whether these null findings reflect the ineffectiveness of the intervention in increasing Stoicism or a lack of association between Stoicism and these outcomes. Future studies should employ validated measures of Stoicism, such as the SABS, and consider longer intervention periods to better evaluate the potential effects of Stoic philosophy on psychological outcomes.

Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials: IRCT20240121060762N2