Daoist Zhanzhuang and Human Flourishing

NCT ID: NCT06573034

Last Updated: 2024-12-06

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 120 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-08-29
• Study Completion Date: 2027-07-31

Brief Summary

This project investigates the impact of Daoist Zhanzhuang (sometimes spelled as Chan Chuang) on human flourishing, and explores the physiological, psychological, and spiritual mechanisms. This study will be a two-arm randomized controlled trial, with mixed-methods and repeated-measures assessment of outcome variables. The two arms will include an active control condition (i.e., sham wall squat) and the Daoist Zhanzhuang condition. Outcome variables will include physiological measures of heart rate variability and inflammatory biomarkers, psychological scales of human flourishing variables, phenomenological interviews of mystical experiences, and daily ecological momentary assessment of human flourishing and mysticism. Randomly assigned into two conditions, 120 participants will complete a three-week intensive practice phase with 9 in-person sessions, followed by a nine-week self-guided practice phase with 4 in-person check-in sessions, and 3 follow-up practice and assessment sessions. Complete assessment (physiological measures, psychological scales, and phenomenological interviews) will be administered at five time points: T1 at about two weeks before the intervention, T2 at the end of the three-week intensive practice, T3 at the end of the 3-month intervention, T4 at the 6-month follow-up, and T5 at the 12-month follow-up. In addition, daily ecological momentary assessment of flourishing variables and practice-induced experiences will be administered daily after the practice for the entire 3-month intervention period.

Detailed Description

Zhanzhuang, "standing like a tree," is a standing meditation rooted in Daoism, with its earliest form documented on a Chinese silk manuscript called Daoyintu, dating back two thousand years. By aligning the human body, Zhanzhuang promotes the circulation and accumulation of qi, fostering enhanced energy, health, and healing. In Daoist theology, qi acts as an intermediary connecting physical energy (jing) and the spirit (shen). Zhanzhuang serves as a foundational practice that establishes conditions for the convergence of the physical and non-physical aspects of human being. One of the greatest Daoist spiritual achievements lies not in transcending the body but in the harmonious integration of body and spirit. While many definitions of spirituality emphasize transcendence and non-physicality, the study of Zhanzhuang suggests that immanence and embodiment are equally significant in defining spirituality.

Data from eight clinical trials demonstrate that Zhanzhuang can improve physical endurance, reduce fatigue, enhance body awareness and emotional regulation, and promote better quality of life. However, none of the studies included an active control group, so it is difficult to dissect the effects from merely extra exercise. Overall, existing studies have construed Zhanzhuang (or more generally qigong) as an out-of-the-box alternative behavioral medicine approach, without trying to understand why and how it works. None have examined its spiritual underpinnings. This decontextualized scholarly work can be a disservice to both the Daoist community, where Zhanzhuang practice originates and is taught, and to the public they serve. Zhanzhuang could offer more than being another complementary therapy. Among many benefits, the practice shows that there is a spiritual aspect that resides within one's physical body, and the spirit and the body can join each other to make genuine flourishing possible.

In addition to documenting the effects of Zhanzhuang on human flourishing, the current study will show why and how Zhanzhuang works. Primary hypotheses posit that Zhanzhuang fosters enhanced energy, resilience, and healing. These effects will be evidenced through physiological changes, such as increased parasympathetic activity and improved immune functioning, as well as psychological responses, including elevated vitality, enhanced stress coping abilities, and overall well-being. These effects may be partially attributed to an augmented interoceptive awareness and a deepened psychological insight into previously avoided emotions. Furthermore, the study explores the potential moderation of these effects by acquired mystical experiences, serving as indicators of spiritual progress within the practice of Zhanzhuang. Lastly, the research will delve into the trajectory of change and within-subject causal processes, examining the relationship between mystical experiences and human flourishing over the 3-month practice period through intensive longitudinal measures.

Conditions

Stress, Physiological; Stress, Psychological; Inflammatory Response; Well-Being, Psychological

Keywords

Human Flourishing; Daoist Zhanzhuang (Chan Chuang); Heart Rate Variability; Immune Function; Mysticism

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Daoist Zhanzhuang

Individuals in this condition will learn and maintain the Zhanzhuang posture, endorsed by this study's religious practitioner and validated by two independent Daoist experts. The core posture involves: a) Standing with feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and toes pointed forward; b) Opening the hips slightly to the side as if holding a ball between the legs; c) Sitting slightly back and tucking in the abdomen and tailbone; d) Keeping the back straight while holding in the chest; e) Raising the arms to a height over the chest but under the shoulders as if embracing a tree trunk; f) Facing palms toward the body with fingers apart as if holding a ball; g) Relaxing the shoulders and lowering the elbows in a stationary stance; h) Pointing the head upward as if balancing an object on top of the head; i) Tucking in the chin; j) Breathing naturally, with a focus on the lower abdominal area.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Daoist Zhanzhuang

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Each session of practice will last 30 minutes, and participants are expected to participate every day for 3 months. During the initial 3 weeks, participants will engage in in-person sessions 3 times a week. On non-session days, they can choose to either attend a Zoom practice session with the coach or submit a recording of their individual practice for fidelity check. In Week 4, participants will attend an in-person session for both practice and assessment. Over the subsequent 8 weeks, participants will either attend in-person or Zoom sessions, with a total of 3 check-in sessions.

Sham Wall Squat

Individuals in this condition will be directed to perform a sham wall squat, essentially a prescribed way to stand straight leaning against the wall. Key instructions include: a) Standing tall with the head and back resting against the wall; b) Positioning feet shoulder-width apart and a foot away from the wall; c) Slightly bending and engaging leg muscles; d) Relaxing hands on the side of the body; e) Concentrating on the balance of weight.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Sham Wall Squat

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Same as the Zhanzhuang group.

Interventions

Daoist Zhanzhuang

Each session of practice will last 30 minutes, and participants are expected to participate every day for 3 months. During the initial 3 weeks, participants will engage in in-person sessions 3 times a week. On non-session days, they can choose to either attend a Zoom practice session with the coach or submit a recording of their individual practice for fidelity check. In Week 4, participants will attend an in-person session for both practice and assessment. Over the subsequent 8 weeks, participants will either attend in-person or Zoom sessions, with a total of 3 check-in sessions.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Sham Wall Squat

Same as the Zhanzhuang group.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. young adults aged between 18 and 25 years old when they enroll;

2. be willing and available (e.g., intend to remain in Charlotte or the surrounding area or willing to travel to UNCC campus for in person visits) to participate to 12 month study;

3. able to stand for 30 minutes;

4. scoring above 18 on the Perceived Stress Scale (moderate stress); and

5. able to read, speak and understand English.

Exclusion Criteria

1. experience of qigong-related practice in the past 5 years;

2. reporting regular medication use that directly modulates immune system functioning (e.g., steroids, cytokine inhibitors, high levels of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, chemotherapy, etc.) or sedates the nervous system (e.g., benzodiazepines, anti-epileptics, tranquilizers, etc.) or alters heart rate (e.g., beta blockers, calcium channel blocker, stimulants, etc.);

3. self-reported illicit drug use in the past 3 months or substance dependence over the past month (e.g., alcohol binge drinking 2+ days/week, using tobacco or nicotine products 5+ days/week, cannabis and related products 2+ days/week, etc.);

4. physical impairment that does not allow them to stand for 30 mins (e.g., severe obesity, need wheel-chair or equipment to assist with walking, recent injury that limits standing, etc.), and

5. severe mental health conditions that could prevent regular practice (e.g., hospitalized in the past 12 months for mental health condition).

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of North Carolina, Charlotte

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Zhuo Job Chen

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Zhuo Job Chen, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 7046877966

Email: job.chen@charlotte.edu

Jeanette Bennett, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 7046871966

Email: Jeanette.Bennett@uncc.edu

Facility Contacts

Zhuo Job Chen, PhD

Role: primary

Zhuo Job Chen, PhD

Role: backup

Jeanette Bennett, PhD

Role: backup

Related Links

http://doi.org/10.54224/32539

Funding Information

Other Identifiers

32539

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

IRB-24-0749

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id