Mindfulness-Based Interventions Targeting First-Generation College Student Retention in Rural Environments

University of South Dakota

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Depression; Anxiety

Treatments: Other: Psychoeducation; Behavioral: Mindfulness Meditation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06789731

23-117

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this randomized control group is to learn about effective treatments for college students experiencing anxiety and/or depression. The main questions this clinical trial aims to answer are: 1) Can mindfulness-based treatments increase retention rates among first-generation college students? 1) Can mindfulness-based treatments decrease anxiety and/or depression among first-generation college students?

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups: mindfulness meditation or psychoeducation. Researchers will compare outcomes from each group to explore treatment differences.

Full description

Method/Design. This study will be a remote, two-arm, randomized, controlled trial. First-generation college students (N=53) will be randomized to either mindfulness meditation (MM), or psychoeducation (PE). The mindfulness meditation will be a loving kindness meditation adapted to apply to college communities. Each intervention will be applied for 30 minutes, once a week, for four weeks through a remote platform. The MM is adapted through a validated brief mindfulness-based intervention framework (Zeidan, 2010). The primary outcome, intention to persist in college, and the secondary outcomes, depression and anxiety, will be assessed by a blinded researcher at baseline, one-week post treatment, and one-month follow-up. Change in sense of connection during the final treatment session, measured with a comprehensive battery of self-report indices, will be the primary therapeutic mechanism.

Aims and Objectives. The proposed project's central hypothesis is that MM will increase first-generation students' intention to persist in college and increase their emotional well-being by increasing their sense of belonging in their college community. Aim 1. Examine MM's effect on first-generation college students' intention to persist in college (primary outcome) over time. Hypothesis: Participants who are randomized into the MM group will report higher intention to persist scores from baseline to one-month follow-up than those who are randomized to PE. Aim 2.

Exploratory. Determine MM's effect on anxiety and depression scores (co-secondary outcomes) over time. Hypothesis: MM will decrease depression and anxiety relative to PE from baseline to one-month follow-up. Aim 3: Exploratory. Investigate whether transcendent states during the final MM session predicts students' intention to persist scores. Hypothesis: The effect of MM on students' intention to persist will be mediated by self-transcendent experience during mindfulness practice.

Enrollment: 53 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 64 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

18 years or older. Currently enrolled in four-year college in the United States. First-generation college student. Access to WiFi and a computer/smartphone/tablet. English speaking.

Exclusion criteria

Not currently enrolled in a four-year college. Not a first-generation college student. Non-English speaker. Not able to utilize WiFi or computer/tablet/smartphone.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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53 participants in 2 patient groups

Mindfulness Meditation

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will meet virtually with the mindfulness practitioner once a week for four weeks for 30-minute segments.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mindfulness Meditation

Psychoeducation

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive recordings online, once a week for four weeks which will be approximately 30 minutes in length.

Treatment:

Other: Psychoeducation