NCT03704779

Effectiveness of a Multimodal Mindfulness Program to Alleviate Graduate Student Stress

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 36 (actual)
• Sponsor: Columbia University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 21 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this pilot study is to develop and assess a multimodal mindfulness activity program for physical and occupational therapy students intended to teach management of stressors impacting educational performance. This study will use a two group, randomized controlled design in which approximately 25 students will be randomized to an intervention group and 25 to a control group. Intervention will be implemented in an 8-week period with pre- and post-study measures administered at 1-week prior to and 1-week following intervention.

Detailed description

College students have reported increasing stress levels in the last 5 years with 1 in 6 students experiencing anxiety levels that adversely impact school function. This study's intervention uses a variety of media and both online and in-person delivery strategies. For example, students will have the opportunity to participate in yoga, Tai Chi, guided imagery meditation, creative arts, journaling, and pet therapy. Students will additionally have the opportunity to participate in activities delivered through online media and accessible at all times throughout the study. Approximately 50 occupational and physical therapy students will be recruited to participate in this study. Half will be selected by chance to participate in the 8-week program; the remaining half will be selected by chance to participate in a non-intervention group in which they do not receive the program but are still assessed at pre- and post-program to measure perceived stress levels. It is anticipated that study results will provide information to educational institutions to help students better manage stress levels.

Conditions

• Stress

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Multimodal mindfulness activity program	This program will provide the opportunity for participants to engage in in-person and online activities. The in-person activities will be held from 12:00 pm to 12:45 pm in the Georgian Physical Therapy Lab (and offered twice per week). The online activities will be available at all times during the study at convenience. There are one 40-minute in-person and four 10-minute online mindfulness activities per week (combined time of 1 hour and 20 minutes per week). In-person activities will consist of mindfulness activities including guided imagery meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, progressive muscle relaxation, creating a Zen garden, aromatherapy, journaling, self-massage, and pet therapy. Online materials will additionally include guided and unguided meditations.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-02-01
• Primary completion: 2019-04-11
• Completion: 2019-04-11
• First posted: 2018-10-15
• Last updated: 2019-04-12

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States