StressNCT06928610
Heart Math Resilience Program on Jail Staff
A study testing HeartMath Resilience Program in people with Stress, run by Florida State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The study is a multiple cohort, staggered-entry, waitlist randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a comprehensive resiliency-based program in reducing stress for correctional officers employed by the Leon County Sheriff's Office in Tallahassee, FL. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Stress
- What is being tested?
- HeartMath Resilience Program
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 300 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 18 Mar 2025to Jan 2029
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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
- Leon County Sheriff's Office jail correctional officers.
- Attending a defensive tactics training by Leon County Sheriff's Office
- Age 18 years or older
- Conversational English
- Being willing and cognitively able to provide consent.
Who cannot join
- Not meeting Inclusion Criteria
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Leon County Detention Facilities
Tallahassee, Florida, 32304
About this study
Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the HeartMath Resilience Program: Exploring the Impact of Stress on Jail Staff Performance and Retention
The study is a multiple cohort, staggered-entry, waitlist randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a comprehensive resiliency-based program in reducing stress for correctional officers employed by the Leon County Sheriff's Office in Tallahassee, FL.
Read the detailed description
The primary objective of the study is to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive resiliency-based intervention, HeartMath, designed to reduce stress for correctional officers (COs) currently employed with the Leon County Sherriff's Office in Tallahassee, Florida. The study will also examine whether the intervention 1) improves perceptions of job satisfaction, workplace safety, and occupational stress; 2) improves CO retention and decreases absenteeism; 3) results in less punitive attitudes and greater apprehension to employ use of force.
- Conditions
- Stress
- Being tested
- HeartMath Resilience Program
- Keywords
- Chronic Stress, Perceptions of job satisfaction, Workplace safety, Occupational stress, Retention and absenteeism, Punitive attitudes, Apprehension to employ use of force, HeartMath, Resiliency-based intervention, Correctional officers
- Medical subject headings
- Occupational Stress
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
HeartMath Resilience ProgramBehavioural
Also called HeartMath
Resiliency-based intervention designed to reduce stress, build resilience, and maintain energy levels.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| HeartMath Resilience Program | Experimental | Participants will receive programming alongside their regularly scheduled defensive tactics training. Receives: Behavioral: HeartMath Resilience Program |
| Waitlist Control, No Intervention | No intervention | Participants in the waitlist control group will receive their regularly scheduled training programs |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change In Perceived Chronic Stress Level
Utilizing Wheaton Chronic Stress Inventory participants will rate their perceived stress on a three-point Likert scale (0 = "not true," 1 = "somewhat true," and 2 = "very true"). Scores are summed where higher values indicate more exposure to chronic stress. Scores range from 0 to 102.
Measured: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Perceived Work Stress Level
Utilizing the Work Stress scale participants will rate their perceived work stress on a 4-point Likert scale and summed where higher values indicate more exposure to work stress. Response categories range between 1 (strongly disagree) and 4 (strongly agree). Scores range between 14 and 56.
Measured: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Secondary outcomes (10)
Change in Workplace Safety Perceptions
Utilizing a five-item index tapping overall perceptions of the danger of the officer's workplace (e.g., My job is more dangerous than other jobs). Responses are assessed using four response categories ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). Scores summed with lower values representing increased perception of safety.
Measured: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Job Satisfaction
Utilizing a five-item scale based on the general scale developed by Brayfield and Rothe and subsequently modified for use with COs. Response categories range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). Scores summed with higher values representing increased levels of job satisfaction.
Measured: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Support for Punishment
Utilizing the Support for Punishment index originally developed by Cullen et al. It is a nine-item self-report index to assess officer attitudes toward punishment and has been used previously to assess CO support for more punitive treatment of incarcerated individuals. Response categories range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). Scores summed with higher values representing greater support for punishment. Scores range from 9 to 36.
Measured: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Support for Treatment
Utilizing the Support for Treatment index developed by Cullen et al. to be used with COs and consists of eight items tapping officer support for a more treatment-oriented approach to corrections. Response categories range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). Higher values representing greater support for treatment. Scores range from 8 to 32.
Measured: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Readiness to Use Force
Utilizing a six-item measure originally developed by Griffin and used previously to assess CO attitudes toward the use of force in commonly encountered situations to assess officers' propensity to use force. Responses are assessed using four response categories ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). Higher values representing increased levels of readiness to use force.
Measured: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Officer Absenteeism
Utilizing human resources data provided by LCSO, absenteeism will be measured as the number of days officers called in sick or did not report for a scheduled shift during the study period.
Measured: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Officer Employment Status
Utilizing human resources data provided by LCSO to determine whether an officer was still employed at the end of the study period.
Measured: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Organizational Committment
Utilizing a five-item index tapping officers' connection to their current organization and whether they plan to stay with the organization in the future. Response categories range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). Scores summed with higher values representing increased levels of organizational commitment. Scores range from 5 to 20.
Measured: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Turnover Intent
Utilizing a four-item index originally developed by Lambert and colleagues to assess COs' intentions to leave their current place of employment. Response categories range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). Higher values represent greater intent to change employment. Scores range from 4 to 16.
Measured: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Views on Absenteeism
Utilizing a two-item index adapted from previous measures tapping sick leave use and adapted for use with COs to assess officers' perceptions of missing work. Response categories range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). Higher scores indicate greater willingness to miss work with scores ranging from 2 to 8.
Measured: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Apr 2025
- Study start18 Mar 2025
- Primary completionJan 2029 (estimated)
- Study completionJan 2029 (estimated)
Why it stopped: Stop order by NIJ
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for StressStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Randomized controlled trial with an intervention arm and a waitlist control arm
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 300 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Florida State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Leon County Sheriff's Office
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Tanya Renn, Florida State University
- Investigators
- Tanya Renn, PhD, Principal investigator, Florida State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06928610
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00004706
- Other IDs
- 15PNIJ-23-GG-02231-NIJB
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 8 Apr 2025
- Last updated
- 8 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Individual participant data (IPD) from this clinical trial will be shared in a de-identified format, including demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes, in accordance with applicable regulations and ethical guidelines. Data will be made available upon reasonable request after the completion of the trial and publication of primary results, for a period of three years. Access will be granted to qualified researchers affiliated with academic institutions, justice-involved entities, or regulatory bodies. Researchers interested in accessing the data must submit a formal request to trenn@fsu.edu. Upon approval, data will be shared through a secure data repository or other appropriate methods to ensure participant confidentiality. In addition to the IPD, supporting documents such as the study protocol, statistical analysis plan, and informed consent form may also be available upon request.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of the HeartMath Resilience Program: Exploring the Impact of Stress on Jail Staff Performance and Retention
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06928610
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00004706
- Conditions
- Stress
- Keywords
- Chronic Stress, Perceptions of job satisfaction, Workplace safety, Occupational stress, Retention and absenteeism, Punitive attitudes, Apprehension to employ use of force, HeartMath
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- SuspendedReason stopped: Stop order by NIJ
- Enrolment
- 300 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Florida State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Leon County Sheriff's Office
- Study start
- 18 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jan 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jan 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The study is a multiple cohort, staggered-entry, waitlist randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a comprehensive resiliency-based program in reducing stress for correctional officers employed by the Leon County Sheriff's Office in Tallahassee, FL.
Detailed description
The primary objective of the study is to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive resiliency-based intervention, HeartMath, designed to reduce stress for correctional officers (COs) currently employed with the Leon County Sherriff's Office in Tallahassee, Florida. The study will also examine whether the intervention 1) improves perceptions of job satisfaction, workplace safety, and occupational stress; 2) improves CO retention and decreases absenteeism; 3) results in less punitive attitudes and greater apprehension to employ use of force.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Randomized controlled trial with an intervention arm and a waitlist control arm
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| HeartMath Resilience Program | Experimental | Behavioral: HeartMath Resilience ProgramParticipants will receive programming alongside their regularly scheduled defensive tactics training. |
| Waitlist Control, No Intervention | No intervention | –Participants in the waitlist control group will receive their regularly scheduled training programs |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Leon County Sheriff's Office jail correctional officers.
- Attending a defensive tactics training by Leon County Sheriff's Office
- Age 18 years or older
- Conversational English
- Being willing and cognitively able to provide consent.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Not meeting Inclusion Criteria
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| HeartMath Resilience ProgramAlso: HeartMathResiliency-based intervention designed to reduce stress, build resilience, and maintain energy levels. | Behavioural | HeartMath Resilience Program |
Primary outcome
Change In Perceived Chronic Stress Level
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Utilizing Wheaton Chronic Stress Inventory participants will rate their perceived stress on a three-point Likert scale (0 = "not true," 1 = "somewhat true," and 2 = "very true"). Scores are summed where higher values indicate more exposure to chronic stress. Scores range from 0 to 102.
Change in Perceived Work Stress Level
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Utilizing the Work Stress scale participants will rate their perceived work stress on a 4-point Likert scale and summed where higher values indicate more exposure to work stress. Response categories range between 1 (strongly disagree) and 4 (strongly agree). Scores range between 14 and 56.
10 secondary outcomes
Change in Workplace Safety Perceptions
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Job Satisfaction
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Support for Punishment
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Support for Treatment
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Readiness to Use Force
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Officer Absenteeism
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Officer Employment Status
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Organizational Committment
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Turnover Intent
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Views on Absenteeism
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Individual participant data (IPD) from this clinical trial will be shared in a de-identified format, including demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes, in accordance with applicable regulations and ethical guidelines. Data will be made available upon reasonable request after the completion of the trial and publication of primary results, for a period of three years. Access will be granted to qualified researchers affiliated with academic institutions, justice-involved entities, or regulatory bodies. Researchers interested in accessing the data must submit a formal request to trenn@fsu.edu. Upon approval, data will be shared through a secure data repository or other appropriate methods to ensure participant confidentiality. In addition to the IPD, supporting documents such as the study protocol, statistical analysis plan, and informed consent form may also be available upon request.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Tanya Renn, PhD principal investigator
Florida State University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing HeartMath Resilience Program in people with Stress, run by Florida State University 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 5 inclusion and 1 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: paused, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 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?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change In Perceived Chronic Stress Level (time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months). The study lists 2 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 8 May 2026.