Welcome to Edu:Social!
Where innovative research meets application
Edu:Social is a Germany-wide scientific research study conducted by the Social Neuroscience Labs of the Max Planck Society. It aims to strengthen resilience and social skills among teachers and healthcare professionals. We provide a several week long mental intervention program that promotes mental health and social competencies while also reducing the risk of stress-related burnout.
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Scientific Background
Small Steps, Big Impact
With this digital intervention program, it is possible to achieve significant results with comparatively little effort. Previous studies have already demonstrated the following positive effects:
- Increased life satisfaction
- Improved mental health
- Strengthened social cohesion
- Strengthened social skills (empathy, compassion)
- Increased resilience
- Reduced stress
- Reduced loneliness
Recent Projects
CovSocial and ReSource Project
The Edu:Social project is based on the results of two successful and unique research projects conducted under the direction of Prof. Dr. Tania Singer. The ReSource project, a comprehensive long-term study on mindfulness and compassion-based mental training, explored the effects of different types of meditation and mental practices on brain, health, stress, well-being and social behavior. The CovSocial project analyzed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the well-being, behavior, stress experience and social cohesion of Berlin adults. In a second phase, it investigated the effects of digital, 10-week mindfulness training or socio-emotional partner-based mental training on resilience, mental health and social skills. The Edu:Social builds upon the CovSocial study and is now investigating the implementation of these mental training programs for the school and healthcare setting.
News
This documentation from August 2023 with comments by Maria Kluge, Tania Singer, Gert Scobel, Dirk Bräuninger and Mike Sandbothe shows how the combination of mental practices (mindfulness, dyads and social presencing theater) affects mental well being. (German only)
Tania Singer on the CovSocial project and the impact of online mindfulness interventions.
Trailer - CovSocial Symposium 2022
Scientific Publications
Godara, M., Hecht, M., & Singer, T. (2024).
Training-related improvements in mental well-being through reduction in negative interpretation bias: A randomized trial of online socio-emotional dyadic and mindfulness interventions. Journal of Affective Disorders.
Reducing alexithymia and increasing interoceptive awareness: A randomized controlled trial comparing mindfulness with dyadic socio-emotional app-based practice. Journal of Affective Disorders, 341, pp. 162-169.
Boosting Empathy and Compassion Through Mindfulness-Based and Socioemotional Dyadic Practice: Randomized Controlled Trial With App-Delivered Trainings. Journal of Medical Internet Research.