Reactions to Distress (RED) — Louisville, KY
Reactions to Experiencing Distress (RED) Study
This study tests whether a brief, culturally-informed mindfulness exercise can reduce threat-focused attention in Black adults who have experienced race-related stress and whether race-related stress increases attention to threat compared with non-race stress.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 270 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Louisville Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Louisville, Kentucky) |
| Trial ID | NCT07016945 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will recruit 200 Black adults who report having experienced or witnessed race-related stress for a single 1.5-hour laboratory visit at the University of Louisville. Participants will experience either race-related or non-race-related stress inductions while their eye movements are tracked to measure attention to threatening stimuli. After the stress induction, participants will be randomly assigned to a brief culturally-informed mindfulness audio or a neutral audio control, and attention bias to threat will be measured again. The study will also measure racial identity to see if it changes how stress affects attention or how well the mindfulness exercise works.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults 18 or older who identify as Black or African American, have personally experienced or witnessed racism or racial microaggressions, and can attend a 1.5-hour visit at the University of Louisville in the study window.
Not a fit: People who do not identify as Black/African American, who have not experienced race-related stress, or who cannot travel to the Louisville lab are unlikely to benefit from or be eligible for this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could identify a short, culturally-tailored mindfulness practice that reduces threat-focused attention after race-related stress and might help lower related symptoms.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab studies show mindfulness and attention-bias methods can shift attention, but applying a brief culturally-informed mindfulness exercise specifically to race-related attention bias is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Eligibility for this study will include a positive response to the following questions: 1) Do you identify as Black or African American? 2) Have you ever in your lifetime personally experienced or witnessed another person experience any acts of racism or racial microaggressions? 3) Are you willing to complete a 1.5-hour study at the University of Louisville in the next 2 weeks? 4) Are you 18 or older? Exclusion Criteria: * None
Where this trial is running
Louisville, Kentucky
- Davidson Hall — Louisville, Kentucky, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Yara Mekawi, PhD
- Email: yara.mekawi@louisville.edu
- Phone: 16308636375
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.