Mindfulness for Stress Response
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This academic study examines how everyday experiences are related to short-term physiological reactivity and recovery and whether one or more brief standardized mindfulness/attention-instruction sessions change these patterns. Adults living in the United States who can read and understand the English study materials participate for up to 12 weeks and complete brief smartphone surveys several times a day during waking hours. Surveys include current experiences and recent alcohol and nicotine use; these reports are analyzed as contextual variables and are not automatic exclusion criteria. Some participants also use assigned non-invasive wearable sensors or blood-pressure monitors during prespecified measurement windows. Device output is used only for research measurement, not diagnosis, treatment, real-time medical decision-making, or patient management. In study waves with a randomized comparison, participants are randomized after consent to one or more brief mindfulness/attention-instruction sessions or time-matched no-instruction comparison sessions. Session duration, schedule, and allocation probabilities are specified before each study wave begins and applied consistently within that wave.
Who Is on the Research Team?
Jiayin Sun, PhD
Principal Investigator
Questrom School of Business Boston University
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for adults in the U.S. who can read and understand English. Participants need to be able to use a smartphone for surveys over up to 12 weeks. There are no automatic exclusions based on alcohol or nicotine use.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Baseline Assessment
Participants complete baseline questions about health, medication use, daily habits, well-being, and prior mindfulness or meditation experience
Treatment
Participants engage in brief standardized mindfulness/attention-instruction sessions or time-matched no-instruction comparison sessions
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for physiological recovery and urge-action decoupling after treatment
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Brief Standardized Mindfulness/Attention Instruction
Trial Overview
The study tests whether brief mindfulness or attention instruction sessions affect stress responses, compared to no-instruction sessions. Some participants also wear non-invasive sensors or blood pressure monitors for research measurements.
How Is the Trial Designed?
3
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Brief standardized mindfulness/attention instructions are delivered on randomly assigned day-blocks and withheld on the remaining day-blocks, with the sequence randomized within each participant and balanced across days of the week. All ecological momentary assessment and ambulatory physiological monitoring procedures are identical on instructed and non-instructed day-blocks. Each instruction session lasts approximately 1 to 10 minutes. Participation in any individual instruction is voluntary; whether the participant performed it is recorded.
Participants receive one or more brief standardized mindfulness/attention-instruction sessions at assigned measurement sessions and complete the same measurement schedule as the comparison arm. Each session lasts approximately 1 to 10 minutes. The number, duration, and schedule of sessions are specified before each study wave begins and applied consistently within that wave.
Participants sit quietly in a comfortable position as they normally would during one or more time-matched no-instruction comparison sessions. No particular attention or meditation method is requested. Each session lasts approximately 1 to 10 minutes. The number, duration, and schedule of sessions are specified before each study wave begins and applied consistently within that wave; participants complete the same measurement schedule as the experimental arm.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Boston University Charles River Campus
Lead Sponsor
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