The Effects of External Cues Versus Internal Cues Messaging on Heart Rate Variability and Affect

NCT05309941 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 1846581
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 300
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial will assess the effects of External Cues focused messaging (i.e., government recommendations of MyPlate) compared to Internal Cues focused messaging (i.e., intuitive eating). The investigators will collect data on within-person changes in psychological (e.g. affect) and physiological (e.g. heart rate variability) outcomes in female college students. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two study conditions. In condition one, participants will view a five-minute video focusing on traditional nutrition education principles. In condition two, participants will view a five-minute video focusing on intuitive eating principles.

Conditions

Dietetics; Diet, Healthy; Nutrition Therapy; Affect; Autonomic Nervous System

Keywords

nutrition messaging; nutrition education; Intuitive Eating

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

  Heart rate variability measures the variation in time between each heartbeat. This will be measured using Firstbeat Electrocardiograms (ECGs) that participants will attach to their chest using two electrodes.

  HRV will be measured during a 3-minute baseline period and while watching a 5-minute intervention video.

• Change in Affect

  Affect will be assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), an instrument that asks participants to rank the extent to which they are feeling each of 20 different emotions on a scale of 1-5. The PANAS produces a score from 10-50 for each Positive Affect and Negative Affect, with higher scores indicating higher levels of these states.

  The PANAS is administered before and immediately after viewing the video.

Study Arms (2)

Internal Cues Messaging

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will view a five-minute video focusing on intuitive eating principles.

Other: Internal Cues Nutrition Messaging

External Cues Messaging

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will view a five-minute video focusing on traditional nutrition education principles.

Other: External Cues Nutrition Messaging

Interventions

Internal Cues Nutrition Messaging OTHER

Participants will view a 5 minute nutrition education video focused on intuitive eating principles.

Internal Cues Messaging

External Cues Nutrition Messaging OTHER

Participants will view a 5 minute nutrition education video focused on traditional nutrition education principles such as label reading.

External Cues Messaging

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 29 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Individuals who identify as female are eligible to participate.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• years old
• identify as female
• college student

You may not qualify if:

• outside of the age range of 18-29 years
• do not self-identify as female
• not able to attend an in-person study visit at the University of Delaware

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Delaware: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Delaware

Newark, Delaware, 19711, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Pacanowski CR, Vizthum D, Cash H, Katcher JA, Skubisz C. A weight-centric health message elicits higher body shame in those at risk for eating disorders. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2025 Aug;17(4):e70061. doi: 10.1111/aphw.70061.

  PMID: 40781768 DERIVED

Study Officials

• Carly R Pacanowski, PhD RD

  University of Delaware

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Christine Skubisz, PhD

  University of Delaware

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: The participants are not aware of the condition they are assigned to.
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: Participants attend a single study visit and are randomized to view one of two nutrition education videos.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 10, 2022
• First Posted: April 4, 2022
• Study Start: January 20, 2022
• Primary Completion: December 20, 2022
• Study Completion: December 20, 2022
• Last Updated: October 11, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF

Locations

US (1)