Storytelling and Mindfulness for Graduate Student Wellbeing
This study is looking at whether storytelling workshops and mindfulness practice can help improve the well-being of graduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. You might be able to join if you are a current STEM graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, are 18 or older, and don't have much experience with mindfulness. Participants will either attend a storytelling workshop, use a mindfulness app called Healthy Minds Program (HMP), do both, or just complete surveys. Researchers will compare how these groups feel after 4 weeks to see if the interventions improve things like mindfulness, stress, and overall well-being. The study aims to enroll 250 participants, but its current status is unclear.
- Study design
- This is an interventional study that will randomize participants into one of four groups: a survey-only control group, a storytelling workshop group, a mindfulness practice group, or a group that does both. The study plans to enroll 250 participants.
- What's involved
- You would attend one 120-minute storytelling workshop, or follow guided meditations for at least 15 minutes per day for 14 days using the Healthy Minds Program app, or do both. You will also complete study questionnaires.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Your well-being will be measured at the start of the study and again at 4 weeks. Data will be collected from participants for up to 2 years.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Storytelling and Mindfulness for Graduate Student Wellbeing
At a glance
Conditions
NCT05826860
Where you'd take part
This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.
Wisconsin Institute for Discovery
Madison, Wisconsinno site contact published
Recruiting
Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.
Study leadership
- Jo Handelsman, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Wisconsin, Madison
Who to contact
Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.
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Inclusion
Exclusion
What this trial measures
- Change from Baseline in Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire at 4 weeksBaseline and 4 weeks
This survey is a measure of environmental, interpersonal, and self-awareness. It is a 39-item self-report questionnaire rated on a 1 to 5 scale from 1 (never or very rarely true) to 5 (very often or always true). Mean score from 1-5 is reported with higher scores indicating increased mindfulness.
- Change from Baseline in Perceived stress scale at 4 weeksBaseline and 4 weeks
This survey is a 21 question evaluation of perceived stress. It is a 14-item self-report questionnaire rated on a 1 (Never) to 4 (Very often) scale. Mean score from 1-4 is reported with higher scores indicating increased perception of stress.
- Change from Baseline in WHO-5 Well-being Index at 4 weeksBaseline and 4 weeks
This is a 5 question survey of well-being developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is a self-report questionnaire rated on a scale from 0 (At no time) to 5 (All the time). Mean score from 0-5 is reported with higher scores indicating greater well-being.
- Change from Baseline in PROMIS Depression Questionnaire at 4 weeksBaseline and 4 weeks
This survey is a measure of emotional distress/depressive symptoms available from PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System). It is a 4-tem self-report questionnaire rated from 1 (Never) to 5 (Always). Mean score from 1-5 is reported with higher scores indicating greater emotional distress/depressive symptoms.
- Change from Baseline in PROMIS Anxiety Questionnaire at 4 weeksBaseline and 4 weeks
This survey is a measure of anxiety available from PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System). It is a 4-tem self-report questionnaire rated from 1 (Never) to 5 (Always). Mean score from 1-5 is reported with higher scores indicating greater anxiety.
- Change from Baseline in PROMIS Sleep Disturbance Questionnaire at 4 weeksBaseline and 4 weeks
This survey is a measure of sleep quality available from PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System). It is an 8-item self-report questionnaire rated from 1 (Very poor) to 5 (Very good) or 1 (Not at all) to 5 (Very much). Mean score from 1-5 is reported with higher scores indicating greater sleep disturbance.
- Change from Baseline in PROMIS Global Health Questionnaire at 4 weeksBaseline and 4 weeks
This survey is a measure of overall health available from PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System). It is a 10-item self-report questionnaire. Mean scores are reported for each of 5 sections. The first 6 questions are rated on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent); higher scores indicate better health. Question 7 is rated on a scale of 1 (Not at all) to 5 (Completely), with higher scores indicating better physical health. Question 8 is rated on a scale of 1 (Always) to 5 (Never), with higher scores indicating better mental health. Question 9 is rated on a scale of 1 (Very severe) to 5 (None), with higher scores indicating greater fatigue. Question 10 is rated on a scale of 0 (No pain) to 10 (Worst pain imaginable), with higher scores indicating greater pain.
- Change from Baseline in Vanderweele Flourishing Measure at 4 weeksBaseline and 4 weeks
This survey is a measure of life satisfaction, measuring 6 categories of life satisfaction; mean scores for all measures are reported. It is a 12-item self-report questionnaire. Domain 1 is measured on a scale of 0 (Not satisfied at all) to 10 (Completely satisfied). Domain 2 is measured on a scale of 0 (Poor) to 10 (Excellent), with higher scores indicating greater mental and physical health. Domain 3 is measured on a scale of 0 (Not at all worthwhile) to 10 (Completely worthwhile), with higher scores indicating greater perceived meaning and purpose. Domain 4 is measured on a scale of 0 (Strongly disagree) to 10 (Strongly agree), with higher scores indicating greater mental stability. Domain 5 is measured on a scale of 0 (Strongly disagree) to 10 (Strongly agree), with higher scores indicating better quality social relationships. Domain 6 is measured on a scale of 0 (Worry all of the time) to 10 (Do not ever worry), with higher scores indicating greater financial stability.
- Change from Baseline in Academic Working Alliance Inventory at 4 weeksBaseline and 4 weeks
This survey is a measure of the quality of the relationship between a student and an advisor. It is a 12-item self-report questionnaire measured on a scale of 1 (Never) to 7 (Always). Mean scores are reported, with higher scores indicating a better quality relationship between student and advisor.
- Change from Baseline in Academic Persistence Inventory at 4 weeksBaseline and 4 weeks
This survey is a measure of the likelihood that a student will complete their degree. It is a 28-item self-report questionnaire rated on a scale of 1 (No confidence OR Strongly disagree, depending on question) to 5 (Complete confidence OR Strongly agree, depending on question). Mean scores are reported, with higher scores indicating a greater likelihood of the student completing their degree.
- Change from Baseline in Copenhagen Burnout Inventory at 4 weeksBaseline and 4 weeks
This survey is a measure of burnout. It is a 15-item self-report questionnaire measured on a scale of 1 (Never/almost never) to 5 (Always). Mean scores are reported, with higher scores indicating greater levels of burnout.
- Change in Baseline in Healthy Minds Index at 4 weeksBaseline and 4 weeks
This survey is a measure of 4 facets of mindfulness: awareness, connection, insight, and purpose. It is a 17-item self-report questionnaire measured on a scale of 0 (None of the time OR Not at all, depending on question) to 4 (All of the time OR To the highest degree, depending on question). Mean scores are reported with higher scores indicating greater mindfulness.
- Change in Grade Point AverageBaseline, year one - semester one, year one - semester two, year two - semester one, year two - semester two
This outcome is determined by the student's performance in academic courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater academic success.
- Change in Dissertator statusBaseline, year one - semester one, year one - semester two, year two - semester one, year two - semester two
This outcome is determined by the student's progress in completing their thesis research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Achieving dissertator status indicates that the student has passed their preliminary exam for attaining a doctoral degree.
- Change in Enrollment statusBaseline, year one - semester one, year one - semester two, year two - semester one, year two - semester two
This outcome is determined by the student's progress in completing their thesis research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A student who is currently enrolled is assumed to be making progress towards completing their degree.