scholarly journals See Me Serene: Results from a Pilot Feasibility Study of a Guided Imagery Mobile Application to Reduce COVID-19-Related Stress (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith S. Gordon ◽  
David Sbarra ◽  
Julie Armin ◽  
Thaddeus W. W. Pace ◽  
Chris Gniady ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Audio Files ◽  
Pilot Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to concerns about mental health resulting from regional and national lockdowns, social isolation, job loss, and concern about disease exposure. OBJECTIVE We describe results of the pilot feasibility study of the See Me Serene mHealth app. The app provides users with immersive, vivid, nature experiences to reduce stress and anxiety related to COVID-19 and other isolation. The goals of the study were to develop the See Me Serene app and test the feasibility and acceptability of study procedures, and explore the potential impact of the app on stress and anxiety. METHODS We developed and tested the See Me Serene app and our study procedures for feasibility, and gathered preliminary data with 100 participants. The research was conducted in two phases: 1) development and internal testing of the app; and 2) feasibility and pilot testing with participants recruited online through earned media (e.g., news stories), presentations at a university campus, and social media (e.g., online sharing of earned media and presentations). The feasibility study employed a mixed-methods, within-subjects, pre-/post-test design. At baseline and 30-day follow-up, we assessed stress-related variables via validated self-report measures and saliva for determination of cortisol concentrations. RESULTS We met or surpassed all our feasibility benchmarks for recruitment (101 participants recruited), retention (91% of 30-day assessment completed), and data collection (85% of salivary cortisol samples returned). Participants adhered to the intervention. On average, participants listened to 48.2 audio files over 30 days or approximately 1.6 audio files per day. Participants were satisfied with the app with 86.7% rating the as helpful in dealing with stress and anxiety. The app showed the potential to reduce stress, anxiety, loneliness, and worry. Although we did not find significant differences in cortisol levels over time, we found trends in the expected direction. Our findings suggest that future research is warranted to test the efficacy of the See Me Serene app with a representative, diverse sample. CONCLUSIONS There is need for evidence based and easily disseminable stress-reduction interventions. See Me Serene is a feasible intervention and has the potential to reduce stress related to COVID-19 and other forms of social isolation. More research on See Me Serene is warranted. CLINICALTRIAL N/A

scholarly journals Factors Influencing British Adolescents’ Intake of Whole Grains: A Pilot Feasibility Study Using SenseCam Assisted Interviews

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maya Kamar ◽  
Charlotte Evans ◽  
Siobhan Hugh-Jones
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Whole Grains ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Online Media ◽  
Whole Grain ◽  
Dietary Choices ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Pilot Feasibility Study ◽  
Depth Interviews

High whole grain intake is beneficial for health. However, adolescents consume low levels of whole grain and the understanding of the underpinning reasons for this is poor. Using a visual, participatory method, we carried out a pilot feasibility study to elicit in-depth accounts of young people’s whole grain consumption that were sensitive to their dietary, familial and social context. Furthermore, we explored barriers and suggested facilitators to whole grain intake and assessed the feasibility of using SenseCam to engage adolescents in research. Eight British adolescents (aged 11 to 16 years) wore a SenseCam device which auto-captured images every twenty seconds for three consecutive days. Participants then completed traditional 24-hour dietary recalls followed by in-depth interviews based on day three SenseCam images. Interview data were subjected to thematic analysis. Findings revealed that low adolescent whole grain intake was often due to difficulty in identifying whole grain products and their health benefits; and because of poor availability in and outside of the home. The images also captured the influence of parents and online media on adolescent daily life and choices. Low motivation to consume whole grains, a common explanation for poor diet quality, was rarely mentioned. Participants proposed that adolescent whole grain consumption could be increased by raising awareness through online media, improved sensory appeal, increased availability and variety, and tailoring of products for young people. SenseCam was effective in engaging young people in dietary research and capturing data relevant to dietary choices, which is useful for future research.

What can neuroscience offer marketing research?

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1089-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Billy Sung ◽  
Nicholas J. Wilson ◽  
Jin Ho Yun ◽  
Eun Ju LEE
Keyword(s):  
Big Data Analytics ◽  
Marketing Research ◽  
Test Methods ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Neural Representations ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Integrate Data

Purpose Neuroimaging technologies such as electroencephalogram and magnetic resonance imaging allow us to analyze consumers’ brains in real time as they experience emotions. These technologies collect and integrate data on consumers’ brains for big data analytics. The purpose of this paper is to identify new opportunities and challenges for neuromarketing as an applied neuroscience. Design/methodology/approach The authors discuss conceptual and methodological contributions of neuromarketing based on studies that have employed neural approaches in market-related investigations, explaining the various tools and designs of neuromarketing research. The authors identify marketing-related questions to which neuroscientific approaches can make meaningful contributions, evaluating several challenges that lie ahead for neuromarketing. Findings The authors summarize the contributions of neuromarketing and discuss synergistic findings that neuromarketing has the potential to yield. Research limitations/implications The authors ask: do consumers’ self-reported choices and their neural representations tell different stories?; what are the effects of subtle and peripheral marketing stimuli?; and can neuromarketing help to reveal the underlying causal mechanisms for perceptual and learning processes, such as motivation and emotions? Practical implications The authors identify marketing-related questions to which neuroscientific approaches can make meaningful contributions, evaluating several challenges that lie ahead for neuromarketing. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no current review has identified avenues for future research in neuromarketing and the emerging challenges that researchers may face. The current paper aims to update readers on what neuroscience and other psychophysiological measures have achieved, as well as what these tools have to offer in the field of marketing. The authors also aim to foster greater application of neuroscientific methods, beyond the more biased/post-test methods such as self-report studies, which currently exist in consumer research.

A Preliminary Study of the Effects of a Modified Mindfulness Intervention on Binge Eating

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 133-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce W. Smith ◽  
Brian M. Shelley ◽  
Lisa Leahigh ◽  
Betsy Vanleit
Keyword(s):  
Binge Eating ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
State Anxiety ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mindfulness Intervention ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Binge Eating Scale ◽  
Reduced State

The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of a modified mindfulness intervention for reducing binge eating. Participants ( n = 25) were recruited from the general public for a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course. The standard MBSR format was modified to include brief eating exercises. There was no control group. Participants completed the Binge Eating Scale and other self-report measures before and after the course. There was a decline in binge eating as well as state anxiety and depressive symptoms. Reduced binge eating was related to increased self-acceptance and reduced state anxiety. The results are discussed with regard to laying the foundation for future research on the effects of mindfulness on eating.

scholarly journals Does practice quality mediate the relationship between practice time and outcome in mindfulness-based stress reduction?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Goldberg ◽  
Cara Knoeppel ◽  
Lisa Flook ◽  
Richard J Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Mindfulness Practice ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction ◽  
Practice Time

Interventions based on mindfulness meditation are increasingly common and evidence exists supporting their use. However, questions remain regarding treatment mechanisms accounting for beneficial effects. The current study examined one candidate mechanism – mindfulness practice quality – as a mediator of the link between practice time and outcome within mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). Participants (n=96) completed measures of mindfulness and psychological symptoms at baseline and post-treatment. A weekly questionnaire assessed practice time and quality over the eight weeks of MBSR. Multilevel models accounted for nesting within participants, MBSR groups, and instructors. Results generally supported the reliability and validity of a weekly single-item practice quality measure. Greater practice time was associated with improved practice quality (r=.48). Increases in practice quality predicted improvements in self-report mindfulness and psychological symptoms (bs=.35, .30, and -.19, ps<.05,), but not behavioral mindfulness (b=-.02, p=.879). In multilevel mediation models, improved practice quality mediated the link between practice time and changes in self-report mindfulness, suggesting improved practice quality functions as a mechanism linking practice time and outcome in MBSR. Future research evaluating practice quality in clinical samples, in tandem with intensive sampling paradigms (e.g., experience sampling) and objective (behavioral, physiological) outcomes may be warranted.

scholarly journals KHAN ACADEMY AS A SUPPLEMENTAL LEARNING TOOL FOR NON-STEM STUDENTS IN CHEMISTRY ENGINEERING COURSE

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 561-565
Author(s):  
Donnalyn Blacer-Bacolod ◽  
◽  
Rudyr S. Bacolod ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Learning Experience ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Engineering Programs ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Stem Students ◽  
Khan Academy ◽  
Video Podcast ◽  
Shed Light

This study explored the effectiveness of using the Khan academy video podcast as a supplemental tool in the chemistry class of Engineering programs. This study utilized a quasi-experimental equivalent design with a post-test only. Thirty 1st year non-STEM students, equally distributed to control and experimental groups, were selected using a matched paired sampling method to participate in a two-week-long intervention. As results revealed, its utilization as a supplemental tool had a viable impact on the students performance in chemistry. Its utilization significantly increased their test scores as compared to the students who did not use it. Likewise, a post-exposure self-report survey was administered to shed light on the learning experience of using the supplemental tool. They indicated the cognitive advantage and personalized experience of using the Khan Academy. This study can contribute to the literature of Khan Academy in the chemistry field. Nonetheless, several limitations need to be addressed to augment future research. Considering the inclusion of more topics, longer time of experimentation, size of the sample, and explicit study of their behavior, for instance, can help establish the veracity of the future results.

scholarly journals The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Depression, Cognition, and Immunity in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Feasibility Study

2020 ◽  
Vol Volume 15 ◽  
pp. 1365-1381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafał Marciniak ◽  
Rastislav Šumec ◽  
Martin Vyhnálek ◽  
Kamila Bendíčková ◽  
Petra Lázničková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction ◽  
Pilot Feasibility Study

Parent Perspectives of Applying Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Strategies to Special Education

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-180
Author(s):  
Meghan M. Burke ◽  
Neilson Chan ◽  
Cameron L. Neece
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Parents of children with (versus without) intellectual and developmental disabilities report greater stress; such stress may be exacerbated by dissatisfaction with school services, poor parent-school partnerships, and the need for parent advocacy. Increasingly, mindfulness interventions have been used to reduce parent stress. However, it is unclear whether parents apply mindfulness strategies during the special education process to reduce school-related stress. To investigate whether mindfulness may reduce school-related stress, interviews were conducted with 26 parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who completed a mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention. Participants were asked about their stress during meetings with the school, use of mindfulness strategies in communicating with the school, and the impact of such strategies. The majority of parent participants reported: special education meetings were stressful; they used mindfulness strategies during IEP meetings; and such strategies affected parents' perceptions of improvements in personal well-being, advocacy, family-school relationships, and access to services for their children. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.

Effects of Mindfulness and Sufi Meditation on Anxiety and Mental Health of Females

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-599
Author(s):  
Lubna Gul ◽  
Syeda Farhana Jehangir
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Belief System ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
High Anxiety ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Meditation Group

The present study is designed to compare two different types of meditations, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Programme (MBSRP; Zinn, 2003) and Sufi Meditation (SM) in the treatment of neurotic anxiety and enhancement of mental health in female population. The study is comprised of a total of 200 participants upon whom Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS; Hamilton, 1959) was administered and two groups of subjects each comprising of 50 (n = 50) subjects with high anxiety and 50 (n = 50) with low anxiety scores (n = 100) derived, further bifurcated into four subgroups wherein 25 (n = 25) subjects with low anxiety randomly assigned to both groups and remaining 25 (n = 25) with high anxiety assigned randomly to each groups. Pre- and post-test measures on HAS and Psychological Well-Being Scale (Ryff, 1989) for both groups was obtained and analyzed. The overall results of study showed that Mindfulness meditation group showed significantly higher score on HAS as compared to Sufi meditation group. According to the results, Sufi meditation was more effective in lowering anxiety and enhancing mental health, since it matches the belief system of the population. Hence results provide a base for future research to combine both types of meditations developing a new healing dimension.

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