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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT02214264

Brief Trainings to Buffer Against Acute Stress Effects

The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of several brief trainings based on contemplative practices and positive psychology to buffer against the negative effects that acute stress has on behavior and cognitive abilities. The investigators hypothesize that training will buffer against negative effects of acute stress.

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Key information

Conditions

Stress

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, United States

About this study

Participants will be taught a stress reducing training (breath awareness, loving kindness practice, gratitude exercise) and will practice using this technique for 10-15 minutes. Following this, all participants will undergo the Cold Pressor Task (CPT) for up to 3 minutes.

Before and after these tasks, participant data related to attention, working memory, self regulation, affect, and prosociality will be collected.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • undergraduate psychology recruitment pool

Exclusion criteria

  • non-native English speakers, pregnant women

Treatment and study plan

Loving-Kindness meditation training

Behavioral

Participants undergo training for approximately 12 minutes. Training involves guided reflections and intentions related to feeling loving-kindness towards the self and others.

Breath Awareness meditation training

Behavioral

Participants undergo training for approximately 12 minutes. Training involves guided awareness focused on sensations of breathing.

Gratitude

Behavioral

Participants undergo training for approximately 12 minutes. Training involves reflections of gratitude for people, events, and things in one's life.

Control

Behavioral

Participants will write and then think about the physical space in which they live (i.e., their home) for approximately 12 minutes.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline performance on Operational Span task

    Time frame: Baseline and 10 minutes following post stress induction

  2. Change from baseline in time spent on hand grip self regulation task

    Time frame: Baseline and 30 minutes post stress induction

  3. Change from baseline on likeability ratings of neutral stimuli

    Time frame: Baseline and 1 minute post stress induction

  4. Number of trials completed in optional Generosity task

    Time frame: 40 minutes post stress induction

  5. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings at baseline

    Time frame: Baseline

  6. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings after pre-test measures

    Time frame: 2 minutes before training

  7. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings after training

    Time frame: 1 minute after training

  8. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings after stress induction

    Time frame: 1 minute after stress induction

  9. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings after post-test

    Time frame: 1 minute after post-test measures

  10. Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test at baseline

    Time frame: Baseline

  11. Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test after pre-test measures

    Time frame: 2 minutes before training

  12. Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test after training

    Time frame: 1 minute after training

  13. Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test after stress induction

    Time frame: 1 minute after stress induction

  14. Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test after post-test

    Time frame: 1 minute after post-test

Secondary outcomes

  1. Participant interest in participating in future training

    Time frame: 40 minutes post stress induction

    Interest will be rated using a visual analog scale.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2014
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Aug 12, 2014
Registry last updated
May 23, 2019

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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