NCT06113926

Brief Summary

Black young adults (aged 18-30; N = 92) were racially included (i.e., received the ball an equal number of times) or excluded (i.e., received the ball only once) by other White players in a ball-tossing computer game called Cyberball; White experimenters acknowledged the exclusion for half of the excluded participants. Participants completed a cold-pressor task twice to measure pain sensitivity (threshold, tolerance, and unpleasantness): immediately prior, and after the Cyberball (and acknowledgment) manipulation. Participants also completed a post-manipulation survey examining the psychological effects of racial exclusion and acknowledgment (i.e., psychological needs satisfaction, negative affect, control).

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
92

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Sep 2022

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 1, 2022

Completed
5 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 31, 2023

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

January 31, 2023

Completed
9 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

October 23, 2023

Completed
10 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 2, 2023

Completed
Last Updated

November 2, 2023

Status Verified

October 1, 2023

Enrollment Period

5 months

First QC Date

October 23, 2023

Last Update Submit

October 27, 2023

Conditions

Pain, Acute

Keywords

discriminationracism

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Pain Threshold measured with a cold pressor task

    Time (in seconds) from the participant places their hand in cold water, to telling the experimenter they are experiencing pain.

    Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).

  • Pain Tolerance

    Time (in seconds) from the participant places their hand in cold water, to when they remove their hand from the water.

    Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).

  • Pain unpleasantness

    Measured with a the McGill-Pain Questionnaire Short Form, the degree of unpleasantness the participant reports from the pain.

    Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Self Control subscale

    Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).

  • Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Belongingness subscale

    Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).

  • Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Meaningful Existence subscale

    Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).

  • Psychological Needs Satisfaction; Self esteem subscale

    Measured immediately after the manipulation (within minutes).

Study Arms (3)

Exclusion by White "Players"

NO INTERVENTION

Excluded by White "players" in an online ball-tossing game (Cyberball).

Inclusion by White "Players"

NO INTERVENTION

Included by White "players" in an online ball-tossing game (Cyberball).

Exclusion by White "Players" with Bystander Acknowledgment

EXPERIMENTAL

Excluded by White "players" in an online ball-tossing game (Cyberball) with a White bystander acknowledging the exclusion.

Other: Bystander Acknowledgment

Interventions

Bystander AcknowledgmentOTHER

The experimenter said "That is so messed up that they excluded you in the task. And honestly, I would say it was racist…" acknowledgment of the participants experience, "…this shouldn't have happened, and I'm really sorry it did…" an apology, and "…I'm going to talk to the primary investigators of the study to figure out how we can make sure that this won't happen to other people" a plan of action.

Exclusion by White "Players" with Bystander Acknowledgment

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 30 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Participants identify as Black/African American
  • Age 18-30

You may not qualify if:

  • Past 30-day persistent pain
  • Cardiovascular or circulatory disorders
  • Diabetes
  • Current pregnancy
  • Open sores/frostbite on nondominant hand

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

The George Washington University

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20052, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • AuBuchon KE, Stock ML, Mathur VA, Attey B, Bowleg L. Bystander Acknowledgment Mitigates the Psychological and Physiological Pain of Racial Discrimination for Black Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Pain. 2024 Sep;25(9):104560. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104560. Epub 2024 May 11.

    PMID: 38735424DERIVED

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Acute PainRacism

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

PainNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsPrejudiceSocial BehaviorBehaviorSocial Discrimination

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Purpose
BASIC SCIENCE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: Three independent groups
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
PhD Candidate

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

October 23, 2023

First Posted

November 2, 2023

Study Start

September 1, 2022

Primary Completion

January 31, 2023

Study Completion

January 31, 2023

Last Updated

November 2, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-10

Locations

US(1)