The Effects of External Cues Versus Internal Cues Messaging on Heart Rate Variability and Affect

This randomized controlled trial will assess the effects of External Cues focused messaging (i.e., government recommendations of MyPlate) compared to Internal Cues focused messaging (i.e., intuitive eating). The investigators will collect data on within-person changes in psychological (e.g. affect) and physiological (e.g. heart rate variability) outcomes in female college students.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two study conditions. In condition one, participants will view a five-minute video focusing on traditional nutrition education principles. In condition two, participants will view a five-minute video focusing on intuitive eating principles.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Dietetics Affect Autonomic Nervous System Diet, Healthy Nutrition Therapy

Age range

18 year–29 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Delaware

Newark, Delaware, 19711, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

18-29 years old
identify as female
college student

Exclusion criteria

outside of the age range of 18-29 years
do not self-identify as female
not able to attend an in-person study visit at the University of Delaware

Treatment and study plan

Internal Cues Nutrition Messaging

Other

Participants will view a 5 minute nutrition education video focused on intuitive eating principles.

External Cues Nutrition Messaging

Other

Participants will view a 5 minute nutrition education video focused on traditional nutrition education principles such as label reading.

Primary outcomes

Change in Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

Time frame: HRV will be measured during a 3-minute baseline period and while watching a 5-minute intervention video.

Heart rate variability measures the variation in time between each heartbeat. This will be measured using Firstbeat Electrocardiograms (ECGs) that participants will attach to their chest using two electrodes.
Change in Affect

Time frame: The PANAS is administered before and immediately after viewing the video.

Affect will be assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), an instrument that asks participants to rank the extent to which they are feeling each of 20 different emotions on a scale of 1-5. The PANAS produces a score from 10-50 for each Positive Affect and Negative Affect, with higher scores indicating higher levels of these states.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Delaware

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2022
Primary completion: 2022
Study completion: 2022
First posted: Apr 4, 2022
Registry last updated: Oct 11, 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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Active, Not Recruiting