{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T10:40:49Z","timestamp":1777891249684,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"4","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["WOR"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>BACKGROUND: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, university students have been exposed to a heightened vulnerability towards developing psychological issues, such as psychological distress and shyness. Internet-based interventions offer a convenient avenue for scalability, thus prompting the development of a smartphone-based hypnotic intervention aimed at addressing shyness among university students. OBJECTIVE: We devised an innovative smartphone-based hypnotic intervention called mHypnosis to examine its impact on shyness among undergraduate students. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate whether the apprehension of negative evaluations before treatment could serve as a predictor for the effectiveness of the intervention on shyness. METHODS: Eighty students with high shyness scores were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group. Another 40 participants with low shyness score were selected as the baseline group. The Shyness Scale (SS), Fear of Negative evaluation scale (FNE), Self-Acceptance Questionnaire (SAQ), and Self-Esteem Scale (SES) were used to evaluate the effect of hypnotic intervention. RESULTS: Before the intervention, the scores of the experimental and control groups on the SS, FNE, SAQ, and SES were higher than those in the baseline group (p\u200a&lt;\u200a0.05). There was no significant difference in scores between the experimental and control group (p\u200a&gt;\u200a0.05). After the intervention, the scores of the SS, FNE, SAQ, and SES were significantly lower in the experimental group than those in the control group (p\u200a&lt;\u200a0.05). The pretest score of FNE could predict the shyness score after hypnotic intervention (B\u200a=\u200a0.35, p\u200a&lt;\u200a0.05). CONCLUSION: Smartphone-based hypnotic intervention had a significant effect on ameliorating shyness during the COVID-19 pandemic; fear of negative evaluation can be a target for treating shyness.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3233\/wor-220686","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,22]],"date-time":"2023-12-22T11:02:57Z","timestamp":1703242977000},"page":"1059-1069","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Effects of smartphone-based hypnotic intervention for undergraduate students\u2019 shyness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"77","author":[{"given":"Lijun","family":"Ma","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Huixue","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mi","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Zhenyue","family":"Zu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Linxi","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Fenglan","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Wenzhuo","family":"Wei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xiaoming","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","reference":[{"issue":"11","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"522","DOI":"10.2188\/jea.JE20200271","article-title":"Changes in psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: A longitudinal sudy","volume":"30","author":"Kikuchi","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Epidemiol"},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"603","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpsychires.2020.10.035","article-title":"Psychological distress and adaptation to the COVID-19 crisis in the United States","volume":"136","author":"Daly","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Psychiatr Res"},{"issue":"11","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8260","DOI":"10.1007\/s12144-021-02267-5","article-title":"Fear of COVID-19 Psychological distress and coping among university students in Ghana","volume":"41","author":"Oti-Boadi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Curr Psychol"},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.1016\/j.copsyc.2021.08.017","article-title":"Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: An umbrella review of the evidence","volume":"44","author":"Valkenburg","year":"2022","journal-title":"Curr Opin Psychol"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e2144727","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2021.44727","article-title":"Examination of early childhood temperament of shyness and social avoidance and sssociations with cardiometabolic health in young adulthood","volume":"5","author":"Tang","year":"2022","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref6","first-page":"11","article-title":"Mindfulness-based stress reduction increases mental wellbeing and emotion regulation during the first wave of the COVID-19 pPandemic: A synchronous online intervention study","volume":"12","author":"Sanilevici","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Psychol.65. Published Nov"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.3233\/WOR-205309","article-title":"Healthcare students\u2019 mental and physical well-being during the COVID-19 lockdown and distance learning","volume":"70","author":"Almhdawi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Work"},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref8","unstructured":"American Psychological Association. Shyness. Available online: http:\/\/www.apa.org\/topics\/shyness\/index.aspx (accessed on 15 July 2017)."},{"issue":"2","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-9566.2006.00485.x","article-title":"The medicalisation of shyness: from social misfits to social fitness","volume":"28","author":"Scott","year":"2006","journal-title":"Sociol Health Illn"},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2021.01.035","article-title":"Shyness and depressive symptoms: a multiple mediation model involving core self-evaluations and sense of security","volume":"286","author":"Geng","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Affect Disord"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"136","DOI":"10.1207\/s15327752jpa6101_10","article-title":"The Interaction Anxiousness Scale: construct and criterion-related validity","volume":"61","author":"Leary","year":"1993","journal-title":"J Pers Assess"},{"issue":"4","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"448","DOI":"10.1037\/h0027806","article-title":"Measurement of social-evaluative anxiety","volume":"33","author":"Watson","year":"1969","journal-title":"J consult Clin Psychol"},{"issue":"6","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"633","DOI":"10.3200\/JRLP.142.6.633-644","article-title":"Shyness and cognitions: an examination of Turkish university students","volume":"142","author":"Koydemir","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Psychol"},{"issue":"11","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4083","DOI":"10.1590\/1413-812320182411.02492018","article-title":"Self-esteem and oralhealth behavior in adolescents","volume":"24","author":"Pazos","year":"2019","journal-title":"Autoestima e comportamentos desa\u00dade bucal em adolescentes. Cien Saude Colet"},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"568","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2018.10.017","article-title":"Behavioral inhibition system and self-esteem as mediators between shyness and social anxiety","volume":"270","author":"Ran","year":"2018","journal-title":"Psychiat Res"},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1822","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2018.01822","article-title":"Relationship between shyness and generalized pathological internet use among Chinese school students: The serial mediating roles of loneliness, depression, and self-esteem","volume":"9","author":"Gao","year":"2018","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"issue":"2","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"213","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2214.2011.01351.x","article-title":"Shyness in late childhood: relations with attributional styles and self-esteem","volume":"39","author":"Chan","year":"2013","journal-title":"Child Care Health Dev"},{"issue":"5","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"814","DOI":"10.1037\/dev0001175","article-title":"Approach-avoidance conflict and shyness: A developmental investigation","volume":"57","author":"Hassan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Dev Psychol"},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jfludis.2018.10.004","article-title":"Self-acceptance, resilience, coping and satisfaction of life in people who stutter","volume":"59","author":"Plexico","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Fluency Disord"},{"issue":"6","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref21","first-page":"1175","article-title":"Middle School Students\u2019 Shyness and Peer Relationships: a Multiple Mediating Model","volume":"25","author":"Chen","year":"2017","journal-title":"Chin J Clin Psycho"},{"issue":"4","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref22","first-page":"96","article-title":"Cognitive-behavioral therapy in social phobia","volume":"2","author":"L\u00edgia","year":"2008","journal-title":"Braz J Psychiatry"},{"issue":"7","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0254117","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0254117","article-title":"Effects of interventions for social anxiety and shyness in school-aged children: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"16","author":"Cordier","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"issue":"3","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"287","DOI":"10.1002\/wps.20472","article-title":"The efficacy of smartphone-based mental health interventions for depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","volume":"16","author":"Firth","year":"2017","journal-title":"World Psychiatry"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1111\/jphd.12340","article-title":"Smartphone-based exposure treatment for dental phobia: a pilot randomized clinical trial","volume":"80","author":"Arias","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Public Health Dent"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1080\/00913847.2019.1632155","article-title":"Determining the utility of a smartphone-based gait evaluation for possible use in concussion management","volume":"48","author":"Howell","year":"2020","journal-title":"Phys Sportsmed"},{"issue":"6","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e20185","DOI":"10.2196\/20185","article-title":"Mental health and behavior of college students during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic: Longitudinal smartphone and ecological momentary assessment study","volume":"22","author":"Huckins","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"issue":"6","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.1037\/ccp0000301","article-title":"A mobile app for social anxiety disorder: A three-arm randomized controlled trial comparing mobile and PC-based guided self-help interventions","volume":"86","author":"Stolz","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Consult Clin Psychol"},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"777102","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.777102","article-title":"Psychodynamic therapist\u2019s subjective experiences with remote psychotherapy during the COVID-19-pandemic-A qualitative study with therapists practicing guided affective imagery, hypnosis and autogenous relaxation","volume":"12","author":"Jesser","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1136\/practneurol-2020-002839","article-title":"Hypnosis","volume":"22","author":"Phillips","year":"2022","journal-title":"Pract Neurol"},{"issue":"3","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.1080\/00029157.2018.1489777","article-title":"A Meta-Analysis of hypnotic interventions for depression symptoms: High hopes for hypnosis","volume":"61","author":"Milling","year":"2019","journal-title":"Am J Clin Hypn"},{"issue":"5","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1394","DOI":"10.1213\/01.ane.0000204355.36015.54","article-title":"Hypnosis reduces preoperative anxiety in adult patients","volume":"102","author":"Saadat","year":"2006","journal-title":"Anesth Analg"},{"issue":"2","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"635","DOI":"10.1007\/s11325-019-01840-4","article-title":"Predictors of cognitive behavioral therapy outcomes for insomnia in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder","volume":"23","author":"El-Solh","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sleep Breath"},{"issue":"8","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1947","DOI":"10.1016\/j.paid.2004.12.002","article-title":"Measuring shyness: analysis of the Revised Cheek andBuss Shyness Scale","volume":"38","author":"Crozier","year":"2005","journal-title":"Pers Indiv Differ"},{"issue":"02","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref35","first-page":"268","article-title":"Psychometric properties of Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale in Chinese college students (Cheek Buss)","volume":"26","author":"Xiang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Chin J Clin Psychol"},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref36","first-page":"2005","article-title":"Behavioral medicine scale manual","author":"Zhang","journal-title":"China medical electronic audio visual publisher"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref37","first-page":"20","article-title":"The development of self-acceptance questionnaire and the test of its reliability and validity","volume":"8","author":"Cong","year":"1999","journal-title":"Chin J Behav Med Sci"},{"issue":"4","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"623","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.89.4.623","article-title":"Simultaneous administration of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in 53 nations: exploring the universal and culture-specific features of global self-esteem","volume":"89","author":"Schmitt","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Pers Soc Psychol"},{"issue":"2","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"404","DOI":"10.1177\/1073191117746503","article-title":"Cognitive abilities explain wording effects in the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale","volume":"27","author":"Gnambs","year":"2020","journal-title":"Assessment"},{"issue":"4","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"328","DOI":"10.1080\/00207144.2022.2124375","article-title":"Pilot study of hypnotic relaxation therapy for well-being (HRT-WB): A new intervention to enhance well-being and positive affect","volume":"70","author":"Na","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Clin Exp Hypn"},{"issue":"6","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1071","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpain.2021.12.015","article-title":"Effectiveness of a brief hypnotic induction in third molar extraction: A randomized controlled trial (HypMol)","volume":"23","author":"Egli","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Pain"},{"issue":"10","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1202","DOI":"10.1089\/tmj.2020.0114","article-title":"Smartphone-based self-testing of COVID-19 using breathing sounds","volume":"26","author":"Faezipour","year":"2020","journal-title":"Telemed J E Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref44","first-page":"103","article-title":"Mediation Effects of Social Self-Efficacy and fear of negative evaluation on the influence of shyness on depression","volume":"62","author":"Su","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Res Edu Sci"},{"issue":"10","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2727","DOI":"10.1111\/jocd.13589","article-title":"Evaluation of temperament and character traits of patients with severe acne","volume":"19","author":"Altunisik","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Cosmet Dermatol"},{"issue":"3","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref46","first-page":"373","article-title":"Personality predictors of anger","volume":"47","author":"Waclaw","year":"2016","journal-title":"The role of FFM traits, shyness, and self-esteem. Polish Psychol Bulletin"},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105678","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nedt.2022.105678","article-title":"Fear of negative evaluation: A cross-sectional study among undergraduate nursing students","volume":"121","author":"Yue","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nurse Educ Today"},{"issue":"2","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"515","DOI":"10.3233\/WOR-213496","article-title":"Effect of cognitive behaviour therapy on the improvement of psychological stress","volume":"69","author":"Yu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Work"},{"issue":"3","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220686_ref49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"230","DOI":"10.1080\/00952990.2018.1536882","article-title":"Shyness,social anxiety, social anxiety disorder, and substance use amongnormative adolescent populations: A systematic review","volume":"45","author":"Lemyre","year":"2019","journal-title":"Am J DrugAlcohol Abuse"}],"container-title":["Work"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/content.iospress.com\/download?id=10.3233\/WOR-220686","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,1]],"date-time":"2026-05-01T05:58:19Z","timestamp":1777615099000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full\/10.3233\/WOR-220686"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,9]]},"references-count":47,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4"},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3233\/wor-220686","relation":{},"ISSN":["1051-9815","1875-9270"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1051-9815","type":"print"},{"value":"1875-9270","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,9]]}}}