Pilot Study to Evaluate the Effect of Transcendental Meditation on Telomere Activity and Well-Being Among Nurse Managers

NCT07165795 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: 2288149-1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of a health and coping strategy (Transcendental Meditation, or TM) on Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity (known markers of physiological and psychological stress and aging), Perceived Stress, Work Life Balance, Flourishing, Power as Knowing Participation in Change, and Burnout, among nurse managers. Aim 1: To evaluate the effects of TM compared to usual care delayed instruction on TL and TA. Aim 2: To evaluate the effects of TM compared to usual care delayed instruction on work life climate, flourishing, perceived stress, burnout, and power as knowing participation in change.

Conditions

Meditation

Keywords

nurse manager; well-being; telomere; meditation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Telomere Length

  T/S ratio; processed by UCSF Blackburn Labs SOP #104D

  baseline, 1-month, 4-months

• Telomerase Activity

  (# positive copies/10,000 input cells) ; processed by UCSF Blackburn Labs SOP #104D

  baseline, 1-month, 4-months

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Work-Life Climate Scale

  baseline, 1-month, 4-months

• Secure Flourishing Index, SFI

  baseline, 1-month, 4-months

• Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS10)

  baseline, 1-month, 4-months

• Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel

  baseline, 1-month, 4-months

• Power as Knowing Participation in Change (PKPCT)

  baseline, 1-month, 4-months

Study Arms (2)

Immediate TM Instruction

EXPERIMENTAL

This group will receive initial TM instruction within three weeks of baseline assessments with follow-up interventions every 2-4 weeks and an expectation of home practice of two 20min meditation sessions per day.

Behavioral: Transcendental Meditation

Control Group (delayed instruction)

NO INTERVENTION

This group will be eligible to receive TM instruction upon completion of the final 4-month assessments, and asked to continue with routine activities throughout study.

Interventions

Transcendental Meditation BEHAVIORAL

Standard TM instruction by certified TM teachers, including 4 days of initial training (60-90 min/day), then follow-up sessions (60-90 min) every 2-4 weeks.

Immediate TM Instruction

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Nurse managers within the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMHCS);
• Stable for at least two months on any prescribed medications (for example, anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications)

You may not qualify if:

• prior instruction in the TM technique

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sarasota Memorial Health Care System: lead
• Florida Atlantic University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

Sarasota, Florida, 34239, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Meditation

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Spiritual Therapies; Relaxation Therapy; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This study is a two-group randomized clinical trial (intervention and control groups) pilot study consisting of 30 nurse managers, with 15 nursing managers randomly assigned to each group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 30, 2025
• First Posted: September 10, 2025
• Study Start: May 18, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2027
• Last Updated: September 10, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Locations

US (1)