The Impact of a Gratitude Intervention on Stress Reactivity

NCT05133063 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: 20501892
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 130
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will employ a randomized mixed between-within experimental stress-testing protocol design. Physiological responses (blood pressure and pulse) will be recorded throughout a baseline, gratitude induction, standard stress-task and recovery period. Participants will be randomly allocated to the experimental (grateful induction) or control condition (neutral induction). Gratitude will be induced by completing a gratitude letter. Demographics will be measured. Psychosocial and health variables will be measured psychometrically at baseline to assess pre-existing levels and after both manipulations (allocated induction and stress task) to monitor expected change over time between conditions. Stress task is an adapted version of the Trier Stress Testing protocol.

Conditions

Positive Emotions; Blood Pressure; Stress, Psychological

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Systolic Blood pressure reactivity

  This will be done by taking the mean of the baseline measures and subtracting it from the mean of the stress task measures.

  Measured over the course of the study (1 hour)

• Diastolic Blood pressure reactivity

  This will be done by taking the mean of the baseline measures and subtracting it from the mean of the stress task measures.

  Measured over the course of the study (1 hour)

• Heart rate reactivity

  This will be done by taking the mean of the baseline measures and subtracting it from the mean of the stress task measures.

  Measured over the course of the study (1 hour)

• Systolic Recovery

  This will be done by taking the mean of the baseline measures and subtracting it from the mean of the recovery measures taken after the stress task.

  Measured over the course of the study (1 hour)

• Diastolic Recovery

  This will be done by taking the mean of the baseline measures and subtracting it from the mean of the recovery measures taken after the stress task.

  Measured over the course of the study (1 hour)

• Heart Rate Recovery

  This will be done by taking the mean of the baseline measures and subtracting it from the mean of the recovery measures taken after the stress task.

  Measured over the course of the study (1 hour)

Study Arms (2)

Gratitude intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will complete a gratitude letter where they spend eight minutes writing a letter of gratitude. The individual writes about his feelings of gratitude through a letter, based on a written instruction.

Behavioral: Gratitude letter

Control intervention.

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants spend eight minutes writing a note describing the lab in which the study is being run.

Behavioral: Control intervention

Interventions

Gratitude letter BEHAVIORAL

Participants are given the following instructions: Think of someone in your life who you feel like you have never fully or properly thanked for something meaningful or important that they did for you. . . . In the space provided below, please write a note to this person that describes why you feel like you never properly thanked them and letting them know why you feel thankful for something important that they did for you. Though this letter will not actually be sent to this person and is simply an exercise for you, please use this as an opportunity to really explore those feelings surrounding how you feel about what they have done for you and write honestly and openly from your heart. You have ten minutes.

Gratitude intervention

Control intervention BEHAVIORAL

Participants receive the following instructions: Think of the room you are in…. In the space below, please provide a description of the room you are in. Try to focus on the specific elements in the room, the colours of the wall or objects in the room. Use this writing session as an opportunity to paint a detailed picture of this room and include as much specific information as you can. You have ten minutes.

Control intervention.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 99 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• years and older
• Able to consent

You may not qualify if:

• Participants with a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, oran immune disorder
• Participants who are pregnant.
• Participants taking medication influencing cardiovascular measures.
• Participants who consumed alcohol 12 hours before study.
• Participants who exercised 12 hours before study.
• Participants who consumed nicotine 2 hours before study.
• Participants who consumed caffeine 2 hours before study.
• Participants who ate 1 hour before study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National University of Ireland, Maynooth: lead
• Bial Foundation: collaborator
• Dr. Brenda O'Connell: collaborator
• Dr. Deirdre O'Shea: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Maynooth Univeristy

Maynooth, Leinster, Ireland

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Central Study Contacts

Brian Leavy

CONTACT

0861683798; brian.leavy.2020@mumail.ie

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principle Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 5, 2021
• First Posted: November 24, 2021
• Study Start: October 20, 2021
• Primary Completion: September 30, 2022
• Study Completion: November 30, 2022
• Last Updated: April 29, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IE (1)