Stress Management Techniques for College Students

Overseen By Yuechun Yao

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Wake Forest University

Disqualifiers: Age, Physical activity, University, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

46 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Stress is defined as a response to one's evaluation of physical, emotional, or environmental challenges or demands. While the experience of stress is common, chronic exposure to high levels of stress is associated with a host of negative interrelated psychological, physiological, and behavioral outcomes. Mental health problems such as anxiety and depression have a high correlation with stress. In addition, chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease are also thought to be related to stress. For instance, research shows that stress increases blood lipids by changing cholesterol levels eventually leading to arterial thrombosis and stroke. While stress affects individuals across their lifespan, college students face a unique combination of academic and life challenges that exacerbate their experience of stress, making them highly susceptible to high levels of stress. Additionally, technological advances such as social media can be a source of chronic stress for many. As exposure to high levels of persistent stress is likely to predispose young adults to a lifetime of poor health and unhealthy behaviors, this is especially imperative in finding low impact and attainable methods of stress management for this population. Although a significant body of literature has addressed stress reduction techniques, most studies to date focus on intervention effects that accumulate over months of exposure, with many stress management programs lasting at minimum of 8 weeks. Previous research has found that interventions employing yoga, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), and deep breathing exercise (DBE) significantly reduce stress levels. The relationship between yoga and stress reduction has been especially consistent across studies. It has been suggested that mindfulness may be the active agent in such programs. Intriguingly, Fountain et al., (2019) found a single 20-minute yoga session significantly decreased stress levels in college students. This raises the question of whether yoga, PMR, and/or DBE require repeated exposure to provide helpful stress-reducing effects, or whether benefits may be obtained in a single session. If so, college students who are unable to commit to an 8-week program will still benefit tremendously from a toolbox of stress reduction techniques, especially during high-stress periods (e.g., finals). The purpose of this study is to examine whether an acute bout of yoga, PMR, and DBE, delivered alone and in combination, are feasible and acceptable components in a single-session stress-reduction program for college students, and to explore initial effects on stress. We will use an efficient factorial design to gather data on the feasibility and acceptability of each of these three components, and to explore the initial main effects on stress.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for undergraduate college students aged 18-24 who are physically able to do exercises like yoga, as checked by a questionnaire (PAR-Q+). They must agree to the study's procedures and attend one session up to an hour long.

Inclusion Criteria

Capable of engaging in physical activity as assessed via the physical activity readiness questionnaire (PAR-Q+)

I am currently an undergraduate college student.

Agree to all study procedures and assessments

Exclusion Criteria

Not an undergraduate student at Wake Forest University

I am not between the ages of 18 and 24.

I cannot safely do physical activities.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

Intervention

Participants engage in a single session of stress-reduction techniques including yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep breathing, delivered alone or in combination

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for stress levels and acceptability of the intervention immediately after the session and 1 day after

1 day

1 visit (virtual)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Deep Breathing
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation
• Quiet sitting
• Yoga

Trial Overview The study tests if a single session of stress-reduction techniques—yoga, deep breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation—can help manage stress in college students. It checks how feasible and acceptable these methods are when used alone or together.

Participant Groups

Group I: Yoga+Progressive Muscle Relaxation+Deep Breathing Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants engage in a single session combining yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep breathing.

Group II: Yoga+Progressive Muscle Relaxation Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants engage in a single session combining yoga and progressive muscle relaxation

Group III: Yoga+Deep Breathing Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants engage in a single session combining yoga and deep breathing.

Group IV: Yoga Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants engage in a single session of yoga.

Group V: Progressive Muscle Relaxation+Deep Breathing Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants engage in a single session combining progressive muscle relaxation and deep breathing.

Group VI: Progressive Muscle Relaxation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants engage in a single session of progressive muscle relaxation.

Group VII: Deep Breathing Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants engage in a single session of deep breathing.

Group VIII: Quiet sitting Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Participants engage in a low-touch relaxation condition.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Wake Forest University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

193

Recruited

151,000+