Brief Trainings to Buffer Against Acute Stress Effects

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of several brief trainings based on contemplative practices and positive psychology to buffer against the negative effects that acute stress has on behavior and cognitive abilities. The investigators hypothesize that training will buffer against negative effects of acute stress.

Detailed Description
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Participants will be taught a stress reducing training (breath awareness, loving kindness practice, gratitude exercise) and will practice using this technique for 10-15 minutes. Following this, all participants will undergo the Cold Pressor Task (CPT) for up to 3 minutes. Before and after these tasks, participant data related to attention, working memory, self regulation, affect, and prosociality will be collected.

Official Title
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Brief Trainings to Buffer Against Acute Stress Effects

Conditions
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Stress

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Loving-Kindness meditation training
* Behavioral: Breath Awareness meditation training
* Behavioral: Gratitude
* Behavioral: Control


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: undergraduate psychology recruitment pool Exclusion Criteria: non-native English speakers, pregnant women

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Loving-Kindness training<br>Participants receive Loving-Kindness meditation training for approximately 12 minutes. | Behavioral: Loving-Kindness meditation training<br>* Participants undergo training for approximately 12 minutes. Training involves guided reflections and intentions related to feeling loving-kindness towards the self and others.<br>|
| Experimental: Breath Awareness training<br>Participants receive Breath Awareness meditation training for approximately 12 minutes. | Behavioral: Breath Awareness meditation training<br>* Participants undergo training for approximately 12 minutes. Training involves guided awareness focused on sensations of breathing.<br>|
| Experimental: Gratitude training<br>Participants will receive Gratitude training for approximately 12 minutes. | Behavioral: Gratitude<br>* Participants undergo training for approximately 12 minutes. Training involves reflections of gratitude for people, events, and things in one's life.<br>|
| Other: Control<br>Participants write and then think about the physical space in which they live (i.e., their home) for approximately 12 minutes. | Behavioral: Control<br>* Participants will write and then think about the physical space in which they live (i.e., their home) for approximately 12 minutes.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline performance on Operational Span task |  | Baseline and 10 minutes following post stress induction | 
| Change from baseline in time spent on hand grip self regulation task |  | Baseline and 30 minutes post stress induction | 
| Change from baseline on likeability ratings of neutral stimuli |  | Baseline and 1 minute post stress induction | 
| Number of trials completed in optional Generosity task |  | 40 minutes post stress induction | 
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings at baseline |  | Baseline | 
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings after pre-test measures |  | 2 minutes before training | 
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings after training |  | 1 minute after training | 
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings after stress induction |  | 1 minute after stress induction | 
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule ratings after post-test |  | 1 minute after post-test measures | 
| Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test at baseline |  | Baseline | 
| Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test after pre-test measures |  | 2 minutes before training | 
| Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test after training |  | 1 minute after training | 
| Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test after stress induction |  | 1 minute after stress induction | 
| Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test after post-test |  | 1 minute after post-test | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Participant interest in participating in future training | Interest will be rated using a visual analog scale. | 40 minutes post stress induction |