Cold Showers for Stress and Resilience in Healthy Adults
Official title: Effects of Repeated Cold Shower Exposure on Stress Response: A Psychophysiological Analysis With Expectancy Manipulation
Run by Catholic University of the Sacred Heart · NCT07611422 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether adding a brief cold-water exposure to regular showers helps healthy adults handle stress better, and whether telling people about its benefits changes the effect.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 120 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Milan) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 10, 2026 |
| Main results expected | July 15, 2026 |
| Study ends | October 15, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | May 28, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07611422 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults 18+ in good health willing to commit to four weeks of daily shower routines and study assessments.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with certain medical conditions or cold-exposure contraindications, or those unlikely to adhere to the protocol, may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
In a 2-by-2 design, about 120 healthy adults are randomized to receive either a warm/lukewarm shower with a final 30-second cold exposure or only warm showers, with or without information implying benefits for stress management. The trial lasts four weeks, and participants complete baseline and end-of-study questionnaires on well-being, stress, and quality of life, plus a timed cognitive stress task. Psychophysiological measures and expectancy effects are analyzed to see if cold exposure and positive expectations influence stress responses. The study uses a factorial approach to separate the effects of the cold exposure from the influence of expectancy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could provide a simple, non-pharmacologic method to improve stress coping for adults.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has explored cold exposure for stress and resilience, but this exact factorial design with expectancy manipulation is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria Participants will be eligible for the study if they meet the following criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Good general health status, self-reported and/or certified by a medical document (e.g., general medical certificate or sports medical clearance) * Willingness to participate for the full duration of the study (4 weeks) * Ability to understand and independently complete questionnaires and study diaries * Signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria Participants will be excluded from the study if they present: * Uncompensated cardiovascular, neurological, or endocrine conditions considered relevant to stress or cold exposure tolerance * Medical conditions contraindicating cold exposure (e.g., Raynaud's phenomenon, cold urticaria, etc.) * Pregnancy * Use of medications that may interfere with stress responses (e.g., beta-blockers, anxiolytics, systemic corticosteroids) * Acute or unstable psychiatric disorders * Inability to comply with the experimental protocol or complete study materials * Concurrent participation in other studies involving stress or physiological regulation interventions
Where it's running
-
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Milan, Italy Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Francesco Pagnini, Professor
- Email: francesco.pagnini@unicatt.it
- Phone: +39 3391942425
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Effects of Exercise Snacks on Muscle Size and Strength in Healthy Young Adults
This study tests whether many small workouts throughout the week can build muscle size and improve strength in healthy, untrained young adults compared with the usual twice-weekly workouts.
-
ORX489 safety and dosing in healthy adults ages 18 to 60
This will test whether ORX489 tablets are safe, well tolerated, and how they are processed in the body in healthy men and women aged 18 to 60.
-
ReHIIT Prehabilitation in Healthy Adults
This pilot tests a combined resistance and high‑intensity interval training program to establish baseline physiology in healthy adults before applying findings to cancer patients.
-
Safety and drug levels of a 3‑month naltrexone implant (BICX104) with or without bupropion versus monthly Vivitrol injections
This will test whether a three‑month naltrexone implant (BICX104), given alone or with extended‑release bupropion, is safe and keeps steady drug levels compared with monthly Vivitrol injections in healthy adults.
-
Compare two forms and doses of vonafexor and see if the high dose interacts with other drugs
This test looks at how two doses and two formulations of vonafexor (EYP651 and vonafexor acid) are absorbed and processed in healthy adults and whether the high dose interacts with common medicines.
-
Low-frequency vibrating mat for sleep and daily stress recovery
This test will see if using a low-frequency vibrating mat at home for three weeks improves stress recovery, sleep quality, mood, and attention in healthy adults aged 18-45.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.