Mind-Body Conditioning for Student Burnout

Overseen By Beth Steinberg, PhD, RN

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Ohio State University

Disqualifiers: Dance minor

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

40 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to evaluate how an eight-week Mind-Body Conditioning course can reduce stress and burnout while enhancing resilience among student Dance majors. The course includes mindfulness practices, yoga, and community discussions, focusing on themes like Mindful Sleep and Supported by the Breath. A smartphone app reinforces these practices. This trial suits second-year Dance majors at Ohio State University enrolled in the Dance 2802 course with smartphone access. As an unphased trial, it provides a unique opportunity for students to improve their well-being and resilience through innovative practices.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on mindfulness and stress reduction techniques, so it's unlikely that medication changes are required.

What prior data suggests that this Mind-Body Conditioning course is safe for students?

Research has shown that the Mind-Body Conditioning Course is generally safe for participants. In a previous study, participants experienced significant reductions in stress, depression, and anxiety, indicating that the program is well-tolerated. These positive changes suggest safety, as they occurred without any reported harmful effects. The course includes mindfulness, gentle yoga, and group discussions, activities typically considered safe for most people. Although no specific negative effects were mentioned, the calming nature of these activities suggests a low risk of adverse reactions. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because the Mind-Body Conditioning course could offer a fresh approach to tackling student burnout, especially among dance majors who face unique physical and mental demands. Unlike conventional treatments that might focus on therapy or medication, this course integrates physical conditioning with mental well-being practices, aiming to enhance both body awareness and stress management. The approach could provide students with practical tools to cope with burnout, potentially leading to better academic and performance outcomes.

What evidence suggests that the Mind-Body Conditioning Course is effective for reducing student burnout?

Research has shown that mindfulness-based activities, such as the Mindfulness in Motion (MIM) program, can significantly reduce burnout and emotional exhaustion in students. Studies have found that exercises combining mind and body help lower academic burnout and stress. For instance, a 12-week program positively affected students' emotional exhaustion. Meta-analyses also demonstrate that mindfulness activities significantly reduce stress levels. This trial will evaluate the Mind-Body Conditioning Course for Second Year Dance majors, with Third Year Dance majors, who completed the course the previous year, serving as a comparison group. Overall, this evidence suggests that mind-body courses can improve well-being and build resilience among students. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for second-year dance majors at The Ohio State University who are looking to reduce stress, burnout, and musculoskeletal injuries. It aims to improve resilience through a Mind-Body Conditioning course integrated into their curriculum.

Inclusion Criteria

Access to personal smartphone, either iOS or Android, with sufficient memory to install the Mindfulness in Motion smartphone app, and WiFi (OSU eduroam while in class or on campus and LTE or personal WiFi off campus)

I am a third-year OSU Dance major who completed Dance 2802 in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Ability to understand and read English

Exclusion Criteria

OSU student with a minor in Dance

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Mind-Body Conditioning Course

Participants engage in an eight-week Mindfulness in Motion program integrated into the Dance 2802 course, focusing on stress reduction, burnout, and resilience building techniques.

8 weeks

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in perceived stress, burnout, resilience, and musculoskeletal discomfort after the intervention.

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Mind-Body Conditioning Course

Trial Overview

The study tests an eight-week Mindfulness in Motion (MIM) program tailored for dancers. It includes mindfulness practices, gentle yoga, and uses an app for reinforcement. The effectiveness on stress, burnout, injury rates, and respiratory rates will be evaluated.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Second Year Dance majors Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Second year Dance majors at The Ohio State University who are enrolled in the required Dance 2802 Seminar/Mind-Body Conditioning course

Group II: Third Year Dance majors Active Control 1 Intervention

The Third Year Dance majors completed Dance 2802 the previous year and did not receive the Mind-Body Conditioning course

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Ohio State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

891

Recruited

2,659,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A pilot Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program was explored at a university, revealing that students face high levels of stress due to workload and a culture of perfectionism.

Participants reported that MBSR helped them gain perspective on their stressors and provided effective techniques for managing stress, suggesting that such programs could enhance student well-being and create a more supportive learning environment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

There Is No Performance, There Is Just This Moment: The Role of Mindfulness Instruction in Promoting Health and Well-Being Among Students at a Highly-Ranked University in the United States. Kerrigan, D., Chau, V., King, M., et al.[2019]

Citations

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clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06925503

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2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11129439/

The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on alleviating ...

Our results provided the evidence that MBIs can significantly reduce the overall burnout and emotional exhaustion in medical students. Therefore ...

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sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S1462373021000328

Effectiveness of Mind-Body Exercise on Burnout and Stress ...

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Effectiveness of Mind-Body Exercise on Burnout and Stress ...

A meta-analysis by Chen et al. (2021) found that mindfulness interventions resulted in a noteworthy reduction in stress levels among nursing ...

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withpower.com

withpower.com/trial/phase-musculoskeletal-abnormalities-7-2025-a37c6

Mind-Body Conditioning for Student Burnout

Research shows that mind-body skills courses can reduce stress and burnout in medical and nursing students, improve empathy, and enhance overall well-being.

6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7686595/

Impact of a University-Wide Interdisciplinary Mind-Body Skills ...

Participants showed significant decreases in stress, negative affect, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and burnout, while positive affect ...

7.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782922000100

Effects of self-guided stress management interventions in ...

Our results suggest that self-guided stress management programs may be effective when compared to control conditions, but with small average effects.

8.

bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com

bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-025-02602-6

Stress, student burnout and study engagement

Student burnout has been linked to lower self-esteem, high university dropout rates and increased suicidal ideation, but to a few other factors ...

9.

link.springer.com

link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-024-05800-4

University students' stress and burnout risk: results of an ...

The results showed that students' psychological flexibility and organised study skills increased, as study-related burnout risk decreased in the ...