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

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Nutrition Therapy; Dietetics; Diet, Healthy; Affect; Autonomic Nervous System
• Interventions: Other: External Cues Nutrition Messaging; Other: Internal Cues Nutrition Messaging

• Registration Number: NCT05309941
• Lead Sponsor: University of Delaware

Brief Summary

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.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2022-01-20
• Study First Submitted: 2022-02-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-03-24
• Study First Posted: 2022-04-04
• Primary Completion: 2022-12-20
• Study Completion: 2022-12-20
• Status Verified: 2023-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-10-10
• Last Update Posted: 2023-10-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 300

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
External Cues Messaging	External Cues Nutrition Messaging	Participants will view a five-minute video focusing on traditional nutrition education principles.
Internal Cues Messaging	Internal Cues Nutrition Messaging	Participants will view a five-minute video focusing on intuitive eating principles.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Heart Rate Variability (HRV)	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	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.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Delaware; 🇺🇸 Newark, Delaware, United States