Stress
Conditions
Brief summary
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.
Detailed description
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.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALLoving-Kindness meditation training
Participants undergo training for approximately 12 minutes. Training involves guided reflections and intentions related to feeling loving-kindness towards the self and others.
BEHAVIORALBreath Awareness meditation training
Participants undergo training for approximately 12 minutes. Training involves guided awareness focused on sensations of breathing.
BEHAVIORALGratitude
Participants undergo training for approximately 12 minutes. Training involves reflections of gratitude for people, events, and things in one's life.
BEHAVIORALControl
Participants will write and then think about the physical space in which they live (i.e., their home) for approximately 12 minutes.
Sponsors
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* undergraduate psychology recruitment pool
Exclusion criteria
* non-native English speakers, pregnant women
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test after post-test | 1 minute after post-test |
| Change from baseline performance on Operational Span task | Baseline and 10 minutes following post stress induction |
| Change from baseline in time spent on hand grip self regulation task | Baseline and 30 minutes post stress induction |
| Change from baseline on likeability ratings of neutral stimuli | Baseline and 1 minute post stress induction |
| Number of trials completed in optional Generosity task | 40 minutes post stress induction |
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings at baseline | Baseline |
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings after pre-test measures | 2 minutes before training |
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings after training | 1 minute after training |
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings after stress induction | 1 minute after stress induction |
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings after post-test | 1 minute after post-test measures |
| Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test at baseline | Baseline |
| Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test after pre-test measures | 2 minutes before training |
| Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test after training | 1 minute after training |
| Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test after stress induction | 1 minute after stress induction |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Participant interest in participating in future training | 40 minutes post stress induction | Interest will be rated using a visual analog scale. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed