Strategies for Responding to Stress

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Stress
• Interventions: Behavioral: Arousal Reappraisal; Behavioral: Exercise

• Registration Number: NCT03289156
• Lead Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine whether changes in psychological and physiological responses differ based on different strategies for responding to stress.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to examine whether changes in psychological and physiological responses differ based on different strategies for responding to stress. Different strategies being examined in this study include exercise and arousal reappraisal.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-09-18
• Study First Submitted: 2017-09-18
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-09-18
• Study First Posted: 2017-09-20
• Primary Completion: 2019-03-30
• Study Completion: 2019-05-30
• Status Verified: 2020-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-11-04
• Last Update Posted: 2020-11-05

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 160

Inclusion Criteria

• Males and females ages 18 to 35
• Speaks English fluently
• Passes the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire-Plus
• Mild to Moderate depression symptoms as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II (a score ≥14 but ≤25)

Exclusion Criteria

• Hearing or visually impaired such that it will interfere with ability to participate effectively
• Currently exercising regularly, defined as exercising at a moderate-intensity more than 2 times a week, for at least 20 minutes each time.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Arousal Reappraisal	Arousal Reappraisal	Brief educational intervention about the stress response and arousal reappraisal
Arousal Reappraisal + Exercise	Exercise	Brief educational intervention about the stress response and arousal reappraisal followed by three 5-minute bouts of aerobic exercise at increasing intensities with practice applying the arousal reappraisal learned earlier.
Exercise	Exercise	Three 5-minute bouts of aerobic exercise at increasing intensities
Arousal Reappraisal + Exercise	Arousal Reappraisal	Brief educational intervention about the stress response and arousal reappraisal followed by three 5-minute bouts of aerobic exercise at increasing intensities with practice applying the arousal reappraisal learned earlier.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Stress Reappraisal	One day	Self-report ratings of appraisal of a lab based stressor as threatening or challenging.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Psychological Response to Stress	One day	Self-report ratings of perceived stress, anxiety, and fear in response to a lab based psychosocial stressor.
Physiological Response to Stress	One day	Heart rate in response to a lab based psychosocial stressor as threatening or challenging.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Texas at Austin; 🇺🇸 Austin, Texas, United States