Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction App
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
African American caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) have unique needs because they are more likely to experience stressors related to intersecting sources of stigma, discrimination, and caregiving burdens specifically associated with caregiving for PLWHA. The proposed project will enhance and finalize Phase I app development and evaluate its effectiveness in a randomized controlled trial. The project has high public health significance because of its potential to provide an accessible, easy to use mindfulness-based support tool for African American caregivers that could reduce stress, mitigate the harm of intersecting stigmas, and strengthen the caregiver-care recipient relationship.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
Building upon prior research regarding mindfulness-based stress reduction interventions, during Phase I, we successfully developed a prototype mobile application (app) for caregivers entitled Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for African American Caregivers (MBSR-AAC). Based on the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework, components of the app focus on decreasing stress associated with intersecting sources of stigma, discrimination, and caregiving burdens specifically associated with caregiving for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). In the present Phase II SBIR study, we will build on Phase I findings to incorporate research-driven enhancements to the app, conduct a feasibility trial of the enhanced app, and conduct a randomized clinical trial to examine the effectiveness of the app in reducing caregiver stress. If proven to be effective, the MBSR-AAC app could have a positive impact on the well-being of African American caregivers that serve as a critical pillar of support for many PLWHA.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: MBSR-AAC app Participants will receive the MBSR-AAC app for 8-weeks. |
Device: mindfulness-based stress reduction app
mobile application (app) for caregivers
|
| Active Comparator: Comparison Participants will receive information regarding caregiver services and resources for 8-weeks. |
Device: mindfulness-based stress reduction app
mobile application (app) for caregivers
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Perceived caregiver stress [Up to 12 weeks]
The degree to which stressful situations occurred during a specific period of time.
- Caregiver self-compassion [Up to 12 weeks]
Caregiver self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness, self-judgment, isolation, and over-identification during a specific period of time.
- Caregiver-care recipient relationships [Up to 12 weeks]
The degree to which the caregiver feels close to the care recipient
- Caregiver burden [Up to 12 weeks]
An assessment of various dimensions of caregiver burden (e.g., isolation, relationship strain, privacy, social life, and health).
- Caregiver depressive and anxiety symptoms [Up to 12 weeks]
An assessment of caregiver clinical symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Stigma and discrimination [Up to 12 weeks]
An assessment of caregiver general feelings of shame, rejection, and avoidance and an assessment of discrimination experiences in the day-to-day lives of caregivers.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
Age 18 or older
-
African American
-
Currently a main unpaid caregiver (defined as providing emotional, physical, and financial support) to a person living with HIV/AIDS.
Exclusion Criteria:
• Inability to provide informed consent (e.g., compromised comprehension).
Contacts and Locations
Locations
No locations specified.Sponsors and Collaborators
- COG Analytics
- Friends Research Institute, Inc.
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Steven B Carswell, Ph.D., COG Analytics
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 2R44AG071168-02