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Daoist Zhanzhuang for Stress and Well-Being

This study is looking at how Daoist Zhanzhuang, a standing meditation practice, affects stress, inflammation, and overall well-being in young adults. You might be able to join if you are between 18 and 25 years old, can stand for 30 minutes, and experience moderate stress. Participants will practice Daoist Zhanzhuang or a sham wall squat for 30 minutes daily over three months, with some in-person and Zoom sessions. Researchers will measure changes in your heart rate variability (a measure of how well your heart adapts to stress), a marker of inflammation called CRP, and your perceived stress levels to see if the intervention is helpful. The study aims to understand the physical and mental benefits of this ancient practice.

Study design
This is a randomized controlled trial, meaning participants will be randomly assigned to either the Daoist Zhanzhuang group or a sham wall squat group. The study plans to enroll 120 participants.
What's involved
You would practice for 30 minutes daily for 3 months, including 3 in-person sessions per week for the first 3 weeks. You will also have follow-up assessments for up to 12 months.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 12 months after the intervention ends.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06573034

Daoist Zhanzhuang and Human Flourishing

Recruiting
NAAges 18–25InterventionalBasic science
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
~120 participants
Updated 2026-05-01 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Daoist ZhanzhuangSham Wall Squat

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Increased heart rate variability
Measured over Day 1 in-person session, baseline T1 (before the intervention), the end of three-week intensive practice (T2), the end of the 3-month intervention (T3), the 6-month follow-up (T4), and the 12-month follow-up (T5).
+7 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Stress, Physiological
Stress, Psychological
Inflammatory Response
Well-Being, Psychological

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Stress

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
North Carolina1

Who to contact

Zhuo Job Chen, PhD
[email protected]
7046877966
Email the study team

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What this trial measures

  • Increased heart rate variabilityDay 1 in-person session, baseline T1 (before the intervention), the end of three-week intensive practice (T2), the end of the 3-month intervention (T3), the 6-month follow-up (T4), and the 12-month follow-up (T5).

    HRV will be collected using the H10 wear link and chest band (Polar Electro, Kempele, Finland) during several study activities, including 5 minutes of normal breathing at rest, a 5-minute paced-breathing task and during the 30-min intervention practice period. The normal and paced breathing assessments will occur at all data collection visits to estimate basal autonomic nervous system functioning.

  • Decreased inflammatory biomarker CRPbaseline T1 (before the intervention), the end of three-week intensive practice (T2), the end of the 3-month intervention (T3), the 6-month follow-up (T4), and the 12-month follow-up (T5).

    Saliva will be collected via approved methods (IBC BIO-23-0032). Salivary inflammatory biomarkers will be assessed in-house at the Biobehavioral Core Lab. Salivary C-reactive protein (sCRP) will be quantified using commercially available enzyme immunoassays according to manufacturer instructions. CRP is a protein produced by the liver in response to the cell mediated biomarker cytokines.

  • Decreased perceived stressbaseline T1 (before the intervention), the end of three-week intensive practice (T2), the end of the 3-month intervention (T3), the 6-month follow-up (T4), and the 12-month follow-up (T5).

    The 4-item Perceived Stress Scale measured on visual analogue ranging from 0 to 100, higher scores suggesting worse outcome.

  • Increased resiliencebaseline T1 (before the intervention), the end of three-week intensive practice (T2), the end of the 3-month intervention (T3), the 6-month follow-up (T4), and the 12-month follow-up (T5).

    Brief Resilience Scale measured on visual analogue ranging from 0 to 100, higher scores suggesting better outcome.

  • Decreased fatiguebaseline T1 (before the intervention), the end of three-week intensive practice (T2), the end of the 3-month intervention (T3), the 6-month follow-up (T4), and the 12-month follow-up (T5).

    The 10-item Fatigue Assessment Scale measured on visual analogue ranging from 0 to 100, higher scores suggesting worse outcome.

  • Increased vitalitybaseline T1 (before the intervention), the end of three-week intensive practice (T2), the end of the 3-month intervention (T3), the 6-month follow-up (T4), and the 12-month follow-up (T5).

    The 6-item Subjective Vitality Scale measured on visual analogue ranging from 0 to 100, higher scores suggesting better outcome.

  • Increased mystical experiencesbaseline T1 (before the intervention), the end of three-week intensive practice (T2), the end of the 3-month intervention (T3), the 6-month follow-up (T4), and the 12-month follow-up (T5).

    The brief 8-item Mysticism Scale measured on visual analogue ranging from 0 to 100, higher scores suggesting better outcome.

  • Increased overall human flourishingbaseline T1 (before the intervention), the end of three-week intensive practice (T2), the end of the 3-month intervention (T3), the 6-month follow-up (T4), and the 12-month follow-up (T5).

    The 12-item Human Flourishing Measure measured on visual analogue ranging from 0 to 100, higher scores suggesting better outcome.