Using Affectionate Communication as a Response to Acute Stress
Affectionate Communication as a Mechanism for Responding to Acute Stress
2 other identifiers
interventional
120
1 country
1
Brief Summary
This study will examine the effects of tending to significant social relationships on managing and reducing stress.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable
Started Feb 2007
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
February 1, 2007
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
May 1, 2007
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
May 2, 2007
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
December 1, 2007
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
December 1, 2007
CompletedJanuary 10, 2012
January 1, 2012
10 months
May 1, 2007
January 6, 2012
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (2)
Oxytocin levels
Measured at Hour 2
Cortisol levels
Measured at Hour 2
Secondary Outcomes (1)
Self-reported stress level
Measured at Hour 2
Study Arms (2)
1
EXPERIMENTALParticipants will receive treatment with affectionate writing
2
ACTIVE COMPARATORParticipants will receive treatment with meaningless writing
Interventions
Participants assigned to the experimental group will spend 20 minutes writing an affectionate letter to a loved one. Levels of cortisol will be measured using saliva samples from each participant during the writing session. Levels of oxytocin, a hormone known to transmit signals within the brain and often associated with bonding and building trusting relationships, will be measured from blood samples taken during the writing session as well.
Participants assigned to the control group will spend 20 minutes writing about meaningless topics. Participants will undergo the same testing during the writing session as the experimental group.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- English-speaking
- Weigh at least 110 pounds
- Moderate to no anxiety about having blood drawn
You may not qualify if:
- Hypertension or diabetes
- Current or recent pregnancy
- Colorblindness
- History of cancer
- Current use of alpha blockers, beta blockers, or steroids
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Exercise and Sports Research Institute
Tempe, Arizona, 85287, United States
Related Publications (1)
Floyd K, Mikkelson AC, Tafoya MA, Farinelli L, La Valley AG, Judd J, Haynes MT, Davis KL, Wilson J. Human affection exchange: XIII. Affectionate communication accelerates neuroendocrine stress recovery. Health Commun. 2007;22(2):123-32. doi: 10.1080/10410230701454015.
PMID: 17668992BACKGROUND
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Kory Floyd, PhD
Arizona State University
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT
- Purpose
- BASIC SCIENCE
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
May 1, 2007
First Posted
May 2, 2007
Study Start
February 1, 2007
Primary Completion
December 1, 2007
Study Completion
December 1, 2007
Last Updated
January 10, 2012
Record last verified: 2012-01