Mindfulness Training for Stress Reduction

No longer recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Dartmouth College Media and Health Behaviors Lab

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Trustees of Dartmouth College

Disqualifiers: Non-undergraduate students, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if adding mindfulness (a practice of being present and focused) to a college biology course can help students manage stress more effectively. Researchers seek to understand whether students in this course feel more mindful, believe they can handle stress better, and react less to sudden stress. One group of students will take the Biology Course with Integrated Mindfulness, while another group will be waitlisted and have access to regular university wellness resources. Ideal participants are undergraduates enrolled in the Biology 3: Mindful Physiology course for the Spring 2025 term. As an unphased trial, this study provides students with a unique opportunity to enhance their stress management skills through mindfulness integrated into their academic curriculum.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that integrating mindfulness into a biology course is safe for students?

Research has shown that mindfulness training, such as what is being added to the biology course, is usually easy for people to handle. Studies have found that mindfulness programs can help lower stress, anxiety, and depression without causing harm. For example, participants in other mindfulness courses learned to manage their emotions and stress without negative effects. Overall, mindfulness practices are generally safe for most people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the integration of mindfulness training into a biology course because it offers a unique approach to stress reduction among students. Unlike traditional stress management options like counseling or medication, this method combines academic learning with mindfulness practices directly within the curriculum, promoting a holistic educational experience. By embedding mindfulness into a daily academic setting, it encourages consistent practice and immediate application, which could lead to more sustainable stress management. This innovative approach aims to enhance both mental well-being and academic performance, making it a compelling area of study.

What evidence suggests that integrating mindfulness into a biology course is effective for stress reduction?

Research shows that mindfulness training can help people manage stress better. In one study, students who took a mindfulness course reported feeling less stressed and better at handling stress. They also noticed increased awareness of their daily activities. Another study found that these students felt more in control during stressful situations and reacted less emotionally. This trial will compare students enrolled in the Mindful Physiology course (Biology 3) with those waitlisted for the course. These findings suggest that incorporating mindfulness into a college biology course could help students manage stress more effectively. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Diane Gilbert-Diamond, ScD

Principal Investigator

Dartmouth College

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for current Dartmouth students who chose the Biology 3: Mindful Physiology course during the Spring term of 2024. Students who were waitlisted after attempting to register are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

Current Dartmouth student who selected Biology 3: Mindful Physiology during 2024 Spring term course enrollment period.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants complete a 10-week biology course with integrated mindfulness practice

10 weeks

Weekly course sessions

Stress Test

Participants undergo the Trier Social Stress Test to assess reactivity to an acute social stressor

1-2 weeks

1 in-person lab visit

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in applied mindfulness and stress regulation self-efficacy

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Biology Course with Integrated Mindfulness

Trial Overview

The study tests if adding mindfulness practice into a college biology course can improve student mindfulness, reduce stress, foster positive academic emotions, and enhance health outcomes compared to waitlisted students.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Biology 3 students Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This arm consists of students enrolled in the Mindful Physiology course (Biology 3) at Dartmouth College during the Spring 2025 term who will have access to the course offerings and usual university wellness resources.

Group II: Biology 3 waitlisted students Active Control 1 Intervention

This arm consists of students waitlisted for the Biology 3 course during the Spring 2025 term. They will receive university wellness resources as usual. These include access to wellness counselors, mental health advisors, and psychiatrists at the university's counseling center, wellness advising at the student wellness center, and campus-wide wellness programs, such as weekly group yoga and meditation sessions and a free subscription to the Headspace app. On-campus mindfulness retreats will also be advertised and accessible to the control group.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Trustees of Dartmouth College

Lead Sponsor

Trials

32

Recruited

14,500+

Dartmouth College

Collaborator

Trials

93

Recruited

1,415,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Mindfulness meditation (MM) can have side effects, particularly related to mental health, physical health, and spiritual well-being, highlighting the need for safety considerations in research.

The paper provides practical tools for researchers, including screening procedures to assess participant contraindications and guidelines for MM training, based on a review of 17 primary studies and 5 secondary reports on meditation side effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness meditation research: issues of participant screening, safety procedures, and researcher training. Lustyk, MK., Chawla, N., Nolan, RS., et al.[2022]

A brief mindfulness-based stress reduction program significantly improved nursing students' attitudes towards medical errors and reduced the number of medical errors made in a simulation environment, based on a study of 78 third-year nursing students.

While the program enhanced awareness of medical errors, it did not significantly affect self-confidence or satisfaction levels among the students.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of a brief mindfulness-based stress reduction program on strengthening awareness of medical errors and risks among nursing students. Tarhan, M., Elibol, E.[2023]

In a study involving 144 patients with bipolar disorder undergoing Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), adverse effects (AEs) were reported by 29 patients, with most occurring within the first three weeks and decreasing thereafter.

Despite the occurrence of AEs, most patients viewed them as part of a therapeutic process rather than harmful, indicating that while AEs are present, they are generally not serious and can be perceived positively in the context of treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse or therapeutic? A mixed-methods study investigating adverse effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in bipolar disorder. Hanssen, I., Scheepbouwer, V., Huijbers, M., et al.[2021]

In a 21-day mindfulness-based intervention with 82 participants, 87% reported at least one momentary adverse effect during meditation, primarily anxiety, indicating that mindfulness practice can sometimes lead to temporary increases in anxiety.

Despite these momentary effects, 25% of participants experienced sustained adverse effects in daily life after the intervention, but these were not linked to the momentary effects during meditation, suggesting that increased awareness of internal states may contribute to these post-intervention challenges.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

First, do no harm: An intensive experience sampling study of adverse effects to mindfulness training. Aizik-Reebs, A., Shoham, A., Bernstein, A.[2021]

A classroom-based mindfulness intervention (MBI) over eight weeks significantly improved self-compassion and coping self-efficacy in 61 college students, particularly in areas like common humanity and emotion-focused coping.

The study suggests that integrating mindfulness practices into college courses can effectively enhance students' psychological well-being and stress management skills.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Common humanity in the classroom: Increasing self-compassion and coping self-efficacy through a mindfulness-based intervention. Taylor, SB., Kennedy, LA., Lee, CE., et al.[2022]

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) courses delivered online during the COVID-19 pandemic were found to be feasible and acceptable, with course completion rates similar to in-person sessions (84.1% vs 67.6%).

Participants reported significant benefits from the online MBSR, including improved stress coping, quality of life, and morale, suggesting that online formats can effectively expand access to mental health resources during challenging times.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Live Online During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Feasibility Study. Riley, TD., Roy, S., Parascando, JA., et al.[2022]

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) significantly decreased anxiety levels in healthcare graduate students after 8 weeks of training, with improvements maintained at 3 weeks post-course.

MBSR also increased empathy among students at the end of the program, although this effect did not persist at the 3-week follow-up, and no significant changes in burnout were observed between the intervention and control groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-based stress reduction training is associated with greater empathy and reduced anxiety for graduate healthcare students. Barbosa, P., Raymond, G., Zlotnick, C., et al.[2013]

Mindfulness-based stress reduction training significantly improved quality of life and reduced physical symptoms in 47 cancer patients, with benefits observed immediately after training and even stronger effects reported one year later.

Participants experienced decreased mood disturbances, such as depression and anger, indicating that mindfulness training can help cancer patients manage stress and enhance their overall well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-based stress reduction training for oncology patients: patients' appraisal and changes in well-being. Kieviet-Stijnen, A., Visser, A., Garssen, B., et al.[2008]

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has been shown to improve mental health in 11 studies compared to waitlist controls or treatment as usual, demonstrating its efficacy as a therapeutic intervention.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) effectively reduces the risk of depressive relapse, showing similar efficacy to treatment as usual in two studies, indicating its potential as a preventive measure for depression.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Fjorback, LO., Arendt, M., Ornbøl, E., et al.[2022]

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Mindfulness Training for Stress Reduction

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