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The Stress Reduction Intervention Study

Not Applicable
Conditions
Stress, Physiological
Stress, Psychological
Interventions
Behavioral: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Group
Behavioral: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Registration Number
NCT02894229
Lead Sponsor
Ohio University
Brief Summary

The primary purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between mindfulness and stress habituation. The investigators propose to measure the effect of mindfulness on stress habituation by randomly assigning participants to a 6-week mindfulness-based stress reduction group intervention, a cognitive-behavioral skills group comparison intervention, or a waitlist control condition followed by repeated acute psychosocial stress testing (2 laboratory sessions on 2 separate days). Saliva will be collected from participants throughout both laboratory testing sessions to measure HPA axis activation (an essential stress-responsive system), along with other measures of physiological and psychological stress (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, emotions). Mediators and moderators of treatment outcome will be examined. The cognitive-behavioral skills group condition is an appropriate comparison group due to the well-documented efficacy of cognitive-behavioral interventions on stress.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
150
Inclusion Criteria
  • English-speaking adults who are between the ages of 18-50, who are in general good health
  • Perceived stress scores (PSS) > 3 on a screening survey
Exclusion Criteria
  • reported previous completion of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program.
  • reported pregnancy
  • reported use of steroid medication
  • presence of a major psychiatric or endocrine disorder (e.g., Major Depression, Cushings Disease; self-reported)
  • reported regular wake time after 10:00 AM on a weekday

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) GroupCognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) GroupThis are will receive 6 weekly, 2-hour groups that focus on cognitive-behavioral skills for stress
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction(MBSR)Mindfulness Based Stress ReductionThis arm will receive 6 weekly, 2-hour groups that focuses on mindfulness meditation for stress reduction
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Perceived Stress ScaleBaseline and 6-weeks after baseline.

A 10-item self-report measure that examines perceived stress. The measure produces one total score. The investigators will measure the change in total score from baseline to the 6-week assessment.

Salivary cortisol response to repeated acute psychosocial stressPost-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)

4 saliva samples will be collected before and after a psychosocial stressor task, which will be administered on two separate occasions separated in time by at least 48 hours. All saliva samples will be assayed for salivary cortisol using enzyme-linked immunoassays. The investigators will measure the change in cortisol stress profiles from the first stressor exposure to the second.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Depressed moodBaseline and 6-weeks

Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale

AnxietyBaseline and 6-weeks later

Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory

EquanimityBaseline and 6-weeks

The Non-Attachment Scale

SmokingBaseline and 6-weeks

Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence

AlcoholBaseline and 6-weeks

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption items

MarijuanaBaseline and 6-weeks

Single item assessing frequency of marijuana use

SleepBaseline and 6-weeks

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

Perceived control over thoughtsBaseline and 6 weeks

Thought Control Ability Questionnaire

Coping SkillsBaseline and 6-weeks

Brief-COPE measure

Cardiovascular response to repeated acute psychosocial stressPost-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)

Heart rate and blood pressure will be assessed non-invasively and periodically before, during, and after non-invasively a psychosocial stressor task, with an Omron Health Care HEM-907XL Professional Blood Pressure Monitor. The investigators will measure the change in heart rate and blood pressure stress profiles from the first stressor exposure to the second.

Autonomic response to repeated acute psychosocial stressPost-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)

Heart rate variability will be assessed continuously before, during, and after non-invasively a psychosocial stressor task, with a MP150 device manufactured by BIOPAC. The investigators will measure the change in heart rate variability stress profiles from the first stressor exposure to the second.

Dispositional MindfulnessBaseline and 6-weeks

Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire

Social ConnectednessBaseline and 6-weeks

Social Connectedness Scale-Revised

OptimismBaseline and 6-weeks

Life Orientation Test

WorryBaseline and 6-weeks

Penn State Worry Questionnaire

Experiential AvoidanceBaseline and 6-weeks

Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II

Emotion RegulationBaseline and 6-weeks

Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale

Negative UrgencyBaseline and 6-weeks

UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale: Negative Urgency Items

Chronic StressBaseline and 6-weeks

Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress

State AffectPost-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)

Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) will be used to assess state affect and specific emotions several times before and after a psychosocial stressor task. The investigators will measure the change in emotion response profiles from the first stressor exposure to the second.

State mindfulnessPost-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)

Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) - state version. The investigators will measure the change in state mindfulness from the first stressor exposure to the second.

Implicit association between self and shamePost-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)

A shame experience and self implicit association test will be used to measure experiential self-referential processing of present moment shame. The investigators will measure the change in implicit association between self and shame from the first stressor exposure to the second.

State ruminationPost-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)

Thoughts Questionnaire (TQ). The investigators will measure the change in state rumination from the first stressor exposure to the second.

Stress appraisalsPost-intervention (approximately 7-14 weeks after baseline assessment)

Cognitive task appraisals will be assessed before and after a psychosocial stressor task. The investigators will measure the change in appraisals from the first stressor exposure to the second.

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