The Impact of 8 Weeks of a Digital Meditation Application on Work Stress

NCT ID: NCT03527303

Last Updated: 2020-11-19

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

1458 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-05-16

Study Completion Date

2020-09-22

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The aim of this study is to test the effects of a digital meditation intervention in a sample UCSF employees who report mild to moderate stress. We will randomize UCSF employees to either 8-weeks of a digital meditation intervention (using the commercially available application Headspace) or a waitlist control condition.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The aim of this study is to test the effects of a digital meditation intervention in a sample UCSF employees who report moderate to high stress. We will randomize UCSF employees to either 8-weeks of a digital meditation intervention (using the commercially available application Headspace) or a waitlist control condition.

Participants assigned to the intervention group will be asked to download and use the Headspace mobile application for at least 10 minutes per day for 8 weeks. All study participants will be asked to fill out short (no longer than 25 minutes) questionnaires at baseline, week 4, week 8 (post intervention), and a 4-month follow up period. Among participants who are randomized to the digital meditation intervention, they will also take part in a 1-year follow up. All activities will take place online (via computer or smartphone).

Prior to randomization, participants will go through an eligibility screening and complete the baseline questionnaire battery. The entirety of the study is digital and there are no in-person assessments. Adherence will be tracked remotely. The goal is to recruit as many as 2000 participants (1000 per condition).

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Stress, Psychological Behavioral Symptoms

Keywords

Explore important study keywords that can help with search, categorization, and topic discovery.

stress health meditation mindfulness employees job strain burnout work mood affect work related stress

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Randomization to either digital meditation condition or wait-list control.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Investigators
Investigator will be blind to condition throughout data accrual.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Meditation Group

Participants in the intervention group will assigned to a digitally-based meditation intervention (Headspace app- Basics + Stress packs) and asked to use this for at least 10 minutes a day over the course of 8 weeks

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Meditation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

10 minute per day, 8 week digital meditation

Waitlist Control Group

Waitlist control group participants will continue their normal activities and not add any form of meditation during the study period.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Meditation

10 minute per day, 8 week digital meditation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

You may join if you:

* Have access to a smartphone or computer every day
* Are fluent in English
* Are a UCSF employee
* Report mild to moderate levels of stress
* Consent: demonstrate understanding of the study and willingness to participate as evidenced by voluntary informed consent and has received a signed and dated copy of the informed consent
* Are at least 18 years of age

Exclusion Criteria

• You may not join if you are an experienced meditator or have participated in a formal meditation practice in the last 3 months (defined as 3 times per week or more for 10 minutes or more at each practice)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

The University of California's Healthy Campus Network

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Headspace, Inc

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of California, San Francisco

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Aric A Prather, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of California, San Francisco

Elissa Epel, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of California, San Francisco

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, California, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Radin RM, Vacarro J, Fromer E, Ahmadi SE, Guan JY, Fisher SM, Pressman SD, Hunter JF, Sweeny K, Tomiyama AJ, Hofschneider LT, Zawadzki MJ, Gavrilova L, Epel ES, Prather AA. Digital Meditation to Target Employee Stress: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Jan 2;8(1):e2454435. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.54435.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 39808431 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

17-23717

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id