Guided Meditation and Stress-Induced Eating

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stress-induced Eating

Treatments: Behavioral: Meditation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT03707197

Meditation and Eating

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to test the effects of a digital meditation intervention in a sample of UCLA employees who report mild to moderate stress. We will randomize University of California Los Angeles employees to either 8-weeks of a digital meditation intervention (using the commercially available application Headspace) or a waitlist control condition.

Full description

The aim of this study is to test the effects of a digital meditation intervention in a sample of UCLA employees who report mild to moderate stress. UCLA employees will be randomized to either 8-weeks of a digital meditation intervention (using the commercially available application Headspace) or a waitlist control condition.

Participants who are assigned to the intervention group will be asked to download and use the Headspace mobile application for at least 10 minutes per day for 8 weeks. All participants will be asked to fill out short (no longer than 25 minutes) questionnaires at baseline, week 4, week 8 (post intervention), and a 4-month follow up period. Among participants who are randomized to the digital meditation intervention, they will also take part in a 1-year follow up. All activities will take place online (via computer or smartphone).

Prior to randomization, participants will complete an eligibility screening and complete the baseline questionnaire battery. The entirety of the study is digital and there are no in-person assessments. Adherence will be tracked remotely. The goal is to recruit as many as 1000 participants (500 per condition).

Enrollment: 943 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Have access to a smartphone or computer everyday
• Are fluent in English
• Are a University of California, Los Angeles employee
• Report mild to moderate levels of stress
• Consent: demonstrate understanding of the study and willingness to participate as evidenced by voluntary informed consent and has received a signed and dated copy of the informed consent
• Are at least 18 years of age

Exclusion criteria

• You may not join if you are an experienced meditator or have participated in a formal meditation practice in the last 6 months (defined as once or more per week for a duration of 20 minutes or more at each practice)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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943 participants in 2 patient groups

Meditation Group

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention group will be assigned to a digitally-based meditation intervention (Headspace app- Basic + Stress packs) and asked to use this for at least 10 minutes a day over the course of 8 weeks

Treatment:

Behavioral: Meditation

Wait-list Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Wait-list control group participants will continue their normal activities and not engage in any form of meditation during the study period