Racial Discrimination, Pain, and the Buffering Influences of Acknowledgment

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Pain, Acute
• Interventions: Other: Bystander Acknowledgment

• Registration Number: NCT06113926
• Lead Sponsor: George Washington University

Brief Summary

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).

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2022-09-01
• Primary Completion: 2023-01-31
• Study Completion: 2023-01-31
• Status Verified: 2023-10
• Study First Submitted: 2023-10-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-10-27
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-10-27
• Study First Posted: 2023-11-02
• Last Update Posted: 2023-11-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 92

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Exclusion by White "Players" with Bystander Acknowledgment	Bystander Acknowledgment	Excluded by White "players" in an online ball-tossing game (Cyberball) with a White bystander acknowledging the exclusion.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pain Threshold measured with a cold pressor task	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.
Pain Tolerance	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.
Pain unpleasantness	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 Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Belongingness subscale	Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).	Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004)
Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Meaningful Existence subscale	Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).	Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004)
Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Self Control subscale	Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).	Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004)
Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Self esteem subscale	Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).	Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The George Washington University; 🇺🇸 Washington, District of Columbia, United States