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DepressionNCT05826860

Storytelling and Mindfulness for Graduate Student Wellbeing

A study testing Mindfulness Practice and Storytelling Workshop in people with Depression and Anxiety, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

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. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Depression, Anxiety, Burnout, Student
What is being tested?
Mindfulness Practice and Storytelling Workshop
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
250 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
10 Mar 2023to May 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • 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

Who cannot join

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

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Jo Handelsman, PhD contact

608-695-0093

jo.handelsman@wisc.edu

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Wisconsin Institute for Discovery

    Madison, Wisconsin, 53715

    Jo Handelsman, PhD

    Simon Goldberg, PhD

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Determining the Effect of Mindfulness and Storytelling on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) Graduate Student Wellbeing

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.

Read the 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.

Being tested
Mindfulness Practice, Storytelling Workshop
Keywords
student burnout, mindfulness, creative writing, graduate students, STEM education
Medical subject headings
Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Burnout, Psychological

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Mindfulness PracticeBehavioural

    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.

  • Storytelling WorkshopBehavioural

    Participants attend 1 (120 min) workshops, teaching them creative writing tools and giving them opportunities to apply those tools.

Study groups in NCT05826860
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Control groupNo interventionSurvey only, no mindfulness/storytelling intervention
Intervention Group 1ExperimentalEngage in a virtual Science Story Workshop
Receives: Behavioral: Storytelling Workshop
Intervention Group 2Experimental2 week mindfulness practice using the HMP app
Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness Practice
Intervention Group 3ExperimentalScience Story Workshop and 2 week Mindfulness practice using the HMP app
Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness Practice; Behavioral: Storytelling Workshop

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change from Baseline in Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire at 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.

    Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks

  2. Change from Baseline in Perceived stress scale at 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.

    Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks

  3. Change from Baseline in WHO-5 Well-being Index at 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.

    Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks

  4. Change from Baseline in PROMIS Depression Questionnaire at 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.

    Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks

  5. Change from Baseline in PROMIS Anxiety Questionnaire at 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.

    Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks

  6. Change from Baseline in PROMIS Sleep Disturbance Questionnaire at 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.

    Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks

  7. Change from Baseline in PROMIS Global Health Questionnaire at 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.

    Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks

  8. Change from Baseline in Vanderweele Flourishing Measure at 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.

    Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks

  9. Change from Baseline in Academic Working Alliance Inventory at 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.

    Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks

  10. Change from Baseline in Academic Persistence Inventory at 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.

    Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks

  11. Change from Baseline in Copenhagen Burnout Inventory at 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.

    Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks

  12. Change in Baseline in Healthy Minds Index at 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.

    Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks

  13. Change in Grade Point Average

    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.

    Measured: Baseline, year one - semester one, year one - semester two, year two - semester one, year two - semester two

  14. Change in Dissertator status

    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.

    Measured: Baseline, year one - semester one, year one - semester two, year two - semester one, year two - semester two

  15. Change in Enrollment status

    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.

    Measured: Baseline, year one - semester one, year one - semester two, year two - semester one, year two - semester two

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted24 Apr 2023
  2. Study start10 Mar 2023
  3. Primary completionMay 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completionMay 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
250 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05826860
Sponsor's protocol ID
2022-1560
Other IDs
MSN269425, 2026-05-05, CALS/PLANT PATHOLOGY
Status last verified
May 2026
First submitted
14 Mar 2023
Last updated
20 May 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Mindfulness Practice and Storytelling Workshop in people with Depression and Anxiety, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Jo Handelsman, PhD (608-695-0093, jo.handelsman@wisc.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change from Baseline in Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire at 4 weeks (time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks). The study lists 15 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 May 2026.

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