Mindfulness in University Students. ATENEU Program

NCT ID: NCT05929430

Last Updated: 2024-12-24

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

174 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-11-02

Study Completion Date

2027-12-31

Brief Summary

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

The study aims to examine the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention and a mindfulness-based intervention with virtual reality on occupational balance and on the reduction of psychological distress in university students (i.e. stress, anxiety and depression). The specific objectives will be to examine the effects of the intervention on other variables related to mental health, psychological functioning and occupations, and their maintenance at three months.

Detailed Description

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

The college student population is considered at high risk for developing mental health problems with the prevalence of depression being 34%, anxiety 32%, and sleep disorders 33% post-pandemic. This psychological distress affects students worldwide and is linked to poor academic performance and the presence of health risk behaviors such as substance use or suicide. Addressing student mental health is an urgent research priority. As such, a growing number of universities are offering interventions aimed at students, including MBI or mindfulness which is defined as the ability to pay attention to present moment experience with interest, curiosity, and acceptance MBI has been shown to have beneficial effects in students but the level of adherence to the program is low. One of the possible solutions could be the incorporation of virtual reality (VR) due to the high affinity of this population with new technologies and the increase in its frequency of use in neurorehabilitation and clinical psychology.

Objectives:

The study aims to examine the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention and a mindfulness-based intervention with virtual reality on occupational balance and on the reduction of psychological distress in university students (i.e. stress, anxiety and depression). The specific objectives will be to examine the effects of the intervention on other variables related to mental health, psychological functioning and occupations, and their maintenance at three months.

Methodology:

Single-blind, 3-arm randomized clinical trial (RCT): traditional MBI, MBI with VR, passive control group (waiting list), with 4 evaluation moments: pre-intervention, inter-session, post-intervention and follow-up. Participants will be undergraduate, master and doctoral students of the Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Alicante.

Intervention: Mindfulness-Based Intervention, Mindfulness-Based Intervention with virtual reality and Control group.

Variables and instruments:

This study will be carried out with mixed methodology. The quantitative part will be carried out by means of ad hoc questionnaires and measurement instruments adapted and validated in Spain, and by means of EMA (Ecological Momentary Assessment).

The qualitative part will be conducted through Focus Groups.

Conditions

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

Occupational Balance Mental Health Wellness University Students Burnout, Student

Keywords

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

Mindfulness Occupational Balance Mental Health University Students Burnout Student

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

A randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) with three arms
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors
Members of the research team who are not involved in the assessments and implementation of the intervention will be responsible for the random sequence and data analysis.

Study Groups

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

Mindfulness-Based Health Care Program (MBHC).

Mindfulness skills will take over a 6-week period. Mindfulness skills will deliver in a weekly group format. Participants will be instructed to follow mindfulness practice at home. The program is focused on cultivating mindfulness of present-moment, cultivating a nonreactive, nonjudgmental attitude toward the experience, and includes specific formal and informal practices aimed at cultivating healthy habits and lifestyle (e.g., activities of daily living such as feeding, bathing, or showering and other occupations such as communication management, health management, etc.; and prosocial components (e.g., kindness and compassion).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Mindfulness program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Six weeks mindfulness program. The program is explained in arm descriptions.

Mindfulness-Based Health Care program with virtual reality (MBHC-VR).

This program combines mindfulness practice with immersion in a virtual environment. The content and objectives of MBHC-VR program are the same that MBHC, with the main difference being that all formal practices of each session will be performed using VR.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Mindfulness program with Virtual Reality

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Six weeks mindfulness program. The program is explained in arm descriptions.

Waiting list control group (WL).

Participants in the WL control group will not receive any intervention during the study. However, for ethical reasons, at the end of the 3-month follow-up assessment, participants of this WL control group will be invited to participate in the MBHC program free of charge.

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.

Mindfulness program

Six weeks mindfulness program. The program is explained in arm descriptions.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Mindfulness program with Virtual Reality

Six weeks mindfulness program. The program is explained in arm descriptions.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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

Inclusion Criteria

* being 18 years old or older
* being a degree, master or doctorate student at Miguel Hernández University
* speaking fluent Spanish
* signing the informed consent form
* having attended at least 4 of the 6 sessions (66% of the program)
* internet access from a computer or smartphone to complete the online assessments and formal practices during the program.

Exclusion Criteria

* miss more than 2 out of 6 sessions (33% of the program)
* present a severe mental disorder in active phase diagnosed by a health professional (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
* are under the influence of alcohol or other drugs during sessions and/or assessments (determined by the program instructor)
* participate in another standardized meditation program during the study period
* withdrew before starting the intervention.
* Additionally, should any participants require psychological or psychiatric treatment during the study, they will be excluded and referred to specialized care services.
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.

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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

ALICIA SANCHEZ PEREZ

Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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

Alicia Sánchez Pérez, Ph.D

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Universidad Miguel Hernández- Facultad de Medicina

Locations

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

Alicia Sánchez Pérez

Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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

Spain

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Alicia Sánchez Pérez, Ph.D

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 654486081

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Alicia Sánchez Pérez, PhD

Role: primary

References

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

Sheldon E, Simmonds-Buckley M, Bone C, Mascarenhas T, Chan N, Wincott M, Gleeson H, Sow K, Hind D, Barkham M. Prevalence and risk factors for mental health problems in university undergraduate students: A systematic review with meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2021 May 15;287:282-292. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.03.054. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33812241 (View on PubMed)

Yusoff MS, Abdul Rahim AF, Yaacob MJ. Prevalence and Sources of Stress among Universiti Sains Malaysia Medical Students. Malays J Med Sci. 2010 Jan;17(1):30-7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22135523 (View on PubMed)

Modrego-Alarcon M, Lopez-Del-Hoyo Y, Garcia-Campayo J, Perez-Aranda A, Navarro-Gil M, Beltran-Ruiz M, Morillo H, Delgado-Suarez I, Olivan-Arevalo R, Montero-Marin J. Efficacy of a mindfulness-based programme with and without virtual reality support to reduce stress in university students: A randomized controlled trial. Behav Res Ther. 2021 Jul;142:103866. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2021.103866. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33957506 (View on PubMed)

Dhas BN, Wagman P. Occupational balance from a clinical perspective. Scand J Occup Ther. 2022 Jul;29(5):373-379. doi: 10.1080/11038128.2020.1865450. Epub 2020 Dec 31.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33382004 (View on PubMed)

Regehr C, Glancy D, Pitts A. Interventions to reduce stress in university students: a review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2013 May 15;148(1):1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2012.11.026. Epub 2012 Dec 13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23246209 (View on PubMed)

Levit-Binnun N, Arbel K, Dorjee D. The Mindfulness Map: A Practical Classification Framework of Mindfulness Practices, Associated Intentions, and Experiential Understandings. Front Psychol. 2021 Oct 12;12:727857. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.727857. eCollection 2021.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34712178 (View on PubMed)

Shapiro SL, Carlson LE, Astin JA, Freedman B. Mechanisms of mindfulness. J Clin Psychol. 2006 Mar;62(3):373-86. doi: 10.1002/jclp.20237.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16385481 (View on PubMed)

Dawson AF, Brown WW, Anderson J, Datta B, Donald JN, Hong K, Allan S, Mole TB, Jones PB, Galante J. Mindfulness-Based Interventions for University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2020 Jul;12(2):384-410. doi: 10.1111/aphw.12188. Epub 2019 Nov 19.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31743957 (View on PubMed)

Sanchez-Perez A, Mendialdua-Canales D, Hurtado-Pomares M, Peral-Gomez P, Juarez-Leal I, Espinosa-Sempere C, Fernandez-Pires P, Zango-Martin I, Abellan-Miralles I, Lopez-Gonzalez P, Valera-Gran D, Navarrete-Munoz EM. The ATENcion Plena en Enfermedad de Alzheimer (ATENEA-Mindfulness in Alzheimer's Disease) Program for Caregivers: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Mar 15;10(3):542. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10030542.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35327020 (View on PubMed)

Lillo-Navarro C, Fernandez-Pires P, Benavides Gil G, Martinez-Zaragoza F, Chaves C, Roca P, Peral-Gomez P, Gonzalez Valero ME, Mendialdua Canales D, Poveda Alfaro JL, Goldin PR, Sanchez-Perez A. Effects of a mindfulness-based program on the occupational balance and mental health of university students. Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2024 May 2;19(5):e0302018. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302018. eCollection 2024.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 38696406 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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

Mind02UMH

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id