Feasibility of Collecting Stress Biomarkers Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness

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

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-07-24

Study Completion Date

2019-08-19

Brief Summary

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The study will examine changes in acute stress (biological and psychological) via salivary cortisol and alpha amylase levels as well as survey measures of self-reported anxiety in response to either (a) a free online guided mindfulness meditation available at (https://www.uclahealth.org/marc/mindful-meditations); (b) a guided mindfulness meditation via virtual reality (https://guidedmeditationvr.com/) or (c) a virtual reality platform of historic photographs and written narratives (https://lookingglassvr.com/). Participants will also complete an interviewer administered survey to measure sociodemographic factors, mental and physical health status, substance use, and medication use and provide a hair sample to measure cortisol.

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Detailed Description

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Homeless youth experience many daily stressors, including hunger, poor sleep, harassment, and violence. Many also have been victims of child abuse and/or neglect, witnessed family and/or community violence, and/or lived in foster care prior to leaving the home setting - exposures labeled as adverse childhood experiences known to increase the risk for poor physical and mental health. Because homeless youth are often disconnected from families, friends and institutions (e.g. health care, schools, jobs), they are at greater risk for "toxic stress" resulting in impaired biological stress responses with high or low levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, and increased inflammation in the cells of the body. High levels of inflammation are associated with sickness behavior syndrome (e.g. fatigue), depression, and suicidal thoughts, which may lead youth to engage in risky behaviors (e.g. substance use, HIV risk behaviors) in an attempt to reduce symptoms. However, few studies have collected biological measures of stress among homeless youth despite prior research linking exposure to violence and trauma to impaired biological stress responses in the general population. Because homeless youth experience a greater number of adverse exposures and with higher levels of severity on a daily basis and across their lifetime than youth in the general population, our lack of understanding of the biological impact that these exposures have on homeless youths' physical and mental health in the short-term as well as across their life span limits understanding of which youth are most vulnerable to poor outcomes. This study's purpose is to test the feasibility of collecting acute and chronic stress response biomarkers in homeless youth for use with future planned research. The study will also assess changes in acute stress (biological and psychological) via salivary cortisol and alpha amylase levels as well as survey measures of self-reported anxiety in response to either (a) a free online guided mindfulness meditation available at (https://www.uclahealth.org/marc/mindful-meditations); (b) a guided mindfulness meditation via virtual reality (https://guidedmeditationvr.com/) or (c) a virtual reality platform of historic photographs and written narratives (https://lookingglassvr.com/). Participants will also complete an interviewer administered survey to measure sociodemographic factors, mental and physical health status, substance use, and medication use and provide a hair sample to measure cortisol.

Conditions

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Stress, Physiological

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Virtual Reality with Meditation

Participants will receive a virtual reality and audio guided mindfulness meditation program available at (https://guidedmeditationvr.com/)

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Virtual Reality with Meditation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Guided Meditation Virtual Reality is a mindfulness meditation app provided on a virtual reality platform that includes a 10 minute audio meditation for relaxation along with a 3D visualization of natural settings (e.g. forest, beach, mountain).

Virtual Reality Control

Participants will receive a virtual reality of historic photographs and written narratives program (https://lookingglassvr.com/)

Group Type OTHER

Virtual reality Control

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Looking Glass Virtual Reality is a stereographic 3D photo viewer provided on a virtual reality platform featuring photos from around the world dating back to approximately a century ago that participants will view for 10 minutes.

Audio Control

Participants will receive an online audio-only guided mindfulness meditation available at (https://www.uclahealth.org/marc/mindful-meditations).

Group Type OTHER

Audio Control

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The UCLA Mindful App is an audio only mindfulness meditation for relaxation called Breath, Sound, Body Meditation that is 12 minutes in length.

Interventions

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Virtual Reality with Meditation

The Guided Meditation Virtual Reality is a mindfulness meditation app provided on a virtual reality platform that includes a 10 minute audio meditation for relaxation along with a 3D visualization of natural settings (e.g. forest, beach, mountain).

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Audio Control

The UCLA Mindful App is an audio only mindfulness meditation for relaxation called Breath, Sound, Body Meditation that is 12 minutes in length.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Virtual reality Control

The Looking Glass Virtual Reality is a stereographic 3D photo viewer provided on a virtual reality platform featuring photos from around the world dating back to approximately a century ago that participants will view for 10 minutes.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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Guided Meditation Virtual Reality UCLA Mindful App Looking Glass Virtual Reality

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Between the ages of 18 to 24 years
* Meets the criteria for homelessness as defined by the federal McKinney-Vento Act as "lacking a fixed, regular, stable, and adequate nighttime residence" and includes "living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations, or a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, regular sleeping accommodations for human beings"
* speaks and understands the English language