Racial Discrimination, Pain, and the Buffering Influences of Acknowledgment

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Black young adults (aged 18-30; N = 92) were racially included (i.e., received the ball an equal number of times) or excluded (i.e., received the ball only once) by other White players in a ball-tossing computer game called Cyberball; White experimenters acknowledged the exclusion for half of the excluded participants. Participants completed a cold-pressor task twice to measure pain sensitivity (threshold, tolerance, and unpleasantness): immediately prior, and after the Cyberball (and acknowledgment) manipulation. Participants also completed a post-manipulation survey examining the psychological effects of racial exclusion and acknowledgment (i.e., psychological needs satisfaction, negative affect, control).

Official Title
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Racial Discrimination, Pain, and the Buffering Influences of Acknowledgment

Conditions
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Pain, Acute

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Bystander Acknowledgment


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Participants identify as Black/African American Age 18-30 Exclusion Criteria: Past 30-day persistent pain Cardiovascular or circulatory disorders Diabetes Current pregnancy Open sores/frostbite on nondominant hand

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 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
Interventional Model Description: Three independent groups
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Exclusion by White Players<br>Excluded by White players in an online ball-tossing game (Cyberball). | |
| No Intervention: Inclusion by White Players<br>Included by White players in an online ball-tossing game (Cyberball). | |
| Experimental: Exclusion by White Players with Bystander Acknowledgment<br>Excluded by White players in an online ball-tossing game (Cyberball) with a White bystander acknowledging the exclusion. | Other: Bystander Acknowledgment<br>* The experimenter said That is so messed up that they excluded you in the task. And honestly, I would say it was racist… acknowledgment of the participants experience, …this shouldn't have happened, and I'm really sorry it did… an apology, and …I'm going to talk to the primary investigators of the study to figure out how we can make sure that this won't happen to other people a plan of action.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pain Threshold measured with a cold pressor task | Time (in seconds) from the participant places their hand in cold water, to telling the experimenter they are experiencing pain. | Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes). | 
| Pain Tolerance | Time (in seconds) from the participant places their hand in cold water, to when they remove their hand from the water. | Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes). | 
| Pain unpleasantness | Measured with a the McGill-Pain Questionnaire Short Form, the degree of unpleasantness the participant reports from the pain. | Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes). | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Self Control subscale | Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004) | Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes). | 
| Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Belongingness subscale | Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004) | Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes). | 
| Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Meaningful Existence subscale | Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004) | Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes). | 
| Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Self esteem subscale | Needs-Satisfaction Scale (Zadro et al., 2004) | Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes). | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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discrimination, racism