Health Experiences & Early Life Disadvantages (HEELD)

University of North Carolina (UNC)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Early Life Adversity; Chronic Stress

Treatments: Behavioral: Meditation Workshop

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT02400593

R01AG048811 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

14-1938

Details and patient eligibility

About

Growing up in a low-income household has been shown to increase risk for, and susceptibility to many illnesses.The purpose of the study is to test an affective intervention for reversing biological risk factors, as related to childhood adversity, in midlife.

Participants will be asked to make two lab visits; attend six weekly, 1-hour meditation classes; as well as complete brief online daily surveys for 11 weeks, five biweekly surveys, and two 30-minute surveys prior to each lab visit. During the lab visits, participants will have their psychophysiology monitored for heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and pulse. Participants will also have their blood drawn.

All surveys and questionnaires inquire about participants' current demographics, family history, perceptions about life and well-being, physical health, and monetary choices.

Enrollment: 113 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 35 to 64 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• fluent in written and spoken English
• have daily access to internet and a computer

Exclusion criteria

• engaged in regular meditation practice, either recently or in the past
• previously participated in a meditation study
• have allergies to adhesive materials (includes latex)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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113 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Lovingkindness

Experimental group

Description:

A six-week formal meditation workshop for 1 hour per week.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Meditation Workshop

Mindfulness

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

A six-week formal meditation workshop for 1 hour per week.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Meditation Workshop