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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06113926

Racial Discrimination, Pain, and the Buffering Influences of Acknowledgment

Black young adults (aged 18-30; N = 92) were racially included (i.e., received the ball an equal number of times) or excluded (i.e., received the ball only once) by other White players in a ball-tossing computer game called Cyberball; White experimenters acknowledged the exclusion for half of the excluded participants. Participants completed a cold-pressor task twice to measure pain sensitivity (threshold, tolerance, and unpleasantness): immediately prior, and after the Cyberball (and acknowledgment) manipulation. Participants also completed a post-manipulation survey examining the psychological effects of racial exclusion and acknowledgment (i.e., psychological needs satisfaction, negative affect, control).

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Key information

Conditions

Pain, Acute Acute Pain Behavior Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Prejudice Racism Signs and Symptoms Social Behavior Social Discrimination

Age range

18 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

The George Washington University

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20052, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Participants identify as Black/African American
  • Age 18-30

Exclusion criteria

  • Past 30-day persistent pain
  • Cardiovascular or circulatory disorders
  • Diabetes
  • Current pregnancy
  • Open sores/frostbite on nondominant hand

Treatment and study plan

Bystander Acknowledgment

Other

The experimenter said "That is so messed up that they excluded you in the task. And honestly, I would say it was racist…" acknowledgment of the participants experience, "…this shouldn't have happened, and I'm really sorry it did…" an apology, and "…I'm going to talk to the primary investigators of the study to figure out how we can make sure that this won't happen to other people" a plan of action.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain Threshold measured with a cold pressor task

    Time frame: Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).

    Time (in seconds) from the participant places their hand in cold water, to telling the experimenter they are experiencing pain.

  2. Pain Tolerance

    Time frame: Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).

    Time (in seconds) from the participant places their hand in cold water, to when they remove their hand from the water.

  3. Pain unpleasantness

    Time frame: Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).

    Measured with a the McGill-Pain Questionnaire Short Form, the degree of unpleasantness the participant reports from the pain.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Self Control subscale

    Time frame: Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).

    Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004)

  2. Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Belongingness subscale

    Time frame: Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).

    Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004)

  3. Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Meaningful Existence subscale

    Time frame: Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).

    Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004)

  4. Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Self esteem subscale

    Time frame: Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).

    Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

George Washington University

Other

Collaborators

  • D.C. Psychological Association
  • Psi Chi
  • Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Nov 2, 2023
Registry last updated
Nov 2, 2023

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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