Anxiety & Depression Association of America

Storytelling and Mindfulness for Graduate Student Wellbeing

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate an intervention for improving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) graduate student wellbeing. Participants will be recruited from the University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student body. Data will be collected from participants for up to 2 years, and the investigators anticipate that the study will last for 4 years.

Conditions

Depression
Anxiety
Burnout, Student

Eligibility

Eligible Ages: Over 18 Years
Eligible Sex: All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Inclusion Criteria

18 or older - Current graduate student in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) field at the University of Wisconsin-Madison - No significant experience with mindfulness practice

Exclusion Criteria

Under 18 - Significant experience with mindfulness practice - Not a current graduate student in a STEM field at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Study Design

Phase: N/A
Study Type: Interventional
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Masking: None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

Arm	Description	Assigned Intervention
No Intervention Control group	Survey only, no mindfulness/storytelling intervention
Experimental Intervention Group 1	Engage in a virtual Science Story Workshop	Behavioral: Storytelling Workshop Participants attend 1 (120 min) workshops, teaching them creative writing tools and giving them opportunities to apply those tools.
Experimental Intervention Group 2	2 week mindfulness practice using the HMP app	Behavioral: Mindfulness Practice Participants follow guided meditations in the Healthy Minds Program (HMP) mobile phone app for at least 15 min per day, for a total of 14 days.
Experimental Intervention Group 3	Science Story Workshop and 2 week Mindfulness practice using the HMP app	Behavioral: Mindfulness Practice Participants follow guided meditations in the Healthy Minds Program (HMP) mobile phone app for at least 15 min per day, for a total of 14 days. Behavioral: Storytelling Workshop Participants attend 1 (120 min) workshops, teaching them creative writing tools and giving them opportunities to apply those tools.

Recruiting Locations

More Details

Status: Recruiting
Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Study Contact

Jo Handelsman, PhD
608-695-0093
jo.handelsman@wisc.edu

Detailed Description

The objective of this research is to evaluate the utility of storytelling and mindfulness practice in improving wellbeing in STEM graduate students. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does engaging in mindfulness practice and storytelling increase measures of wellbeing in this population? 2. Does engaging in mindfulness practice and storytelling increase measures of academic success? Participants will be randomized to 1 or 4 conditions (each will complete study questionnaires): - a survey-only Control Group to complete a survey evaluating wellbeing and academic success - Intervention Group 1 which will take a virtual Science Story workshop - Intervention Group 2 which will engage in a mindfulness practice using the Healthy Minds Program (HMP) app for 2 weeks - Intervention Group 3 which will both take a virtual Science Story workshop and use the HMP app for 2 weeks Researchers will compare survey results from participants in the control group (no intervention, survey only) to those from participants in the intervention groups to see if the measures of wellbeing and academic success differ between groups.