Online Trial of Meditation and Behavior

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Meditation
• Interventions: Behavioral: Loving-Kindness Meditation; Behavioral: Relaxation Meditation

• Registration Number: NCT04632875
• Lead Sponsor: Georgetown University

Brief Summary

This study investigates how different types of meditation may affect behaviors and emotions. The study is conducted entirely online and involves listening to 4-weeks of a guided meditation training. The meditation involves either Loving-Kindness or Relaxation techniques. The purpose of the study is to assess changes in behaviors and emotions using standard questionnaires, reports of real-world behavior, and online behavioral tasks. The overarching goal is to help clarify how mind-body practices may improve some aspects of well-being.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2020-11
• Study First Submitted: 2020-11-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-11-16
• Study First Posted: 2020-11-17
• Study Start: 2020-12-04
• Primary Completion: 2021-06-10
• Study Completion: 2021-06-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-06-11
• Last Update Posted: 2021-06-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 75

Inclusion Criteria

• Is a medically healthy individual
• Lives in the United States
• Has reliable internet access and the ability to join a Zoom video chat

Exclusion Criteria

• Has experience with meditation or other mind-body practices
• Has a neurological disease
• Has a current psychiatric disorder
• Is on medication that affects the central nervous system (e.g. psychotropic drugs)
• Has recurrent or chronic pain
• Is pregnant or planning to become pregnant

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Loving-Kindness Meditation	Loving-Kindness Meditation	4-week guided Loving-Kindness Meditation training (administered online).
Relaxation Meditation	Relaxation Meditation	4-week guided Relaxation Meditation training (administered online).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Social functioning	4-5 weeks	Participants will complete a questionnaire about their real-world social behaviors. An aggregate score will be computed; higher scores will indicate better social functioning.
Affective responses	4-5 weeks	Participants will perform a wall-sit test and responses will be measured using a 0-100 Visual Analog Scale of intensity.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Psychological well-being related to COVID-19	4-5 weeks	Participants will complete a questionnaire related to the psychological impact of COVID-19 social distancing. Higher scores will indicate worse psychological impact of COVID-19.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Georgetown University; 🇺🇸 Washington, District of Columbia, United States