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Type 1 DiabetesMBSR-VRNCT07793097

Can Mindfulness and Virtual Reality Reduce Stress in Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes?

A study testing Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction - Virtual Reality and Stress tip sheet in people with Type 1 Diabetes, run by Wayne State University at 2 sites in United States.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this study is to learn if Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) can be delivered using virtual reality (VR) technology to emerging adults (youth 16-20 years old) with type 1 diabetes and high levels of stress reactivity. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 16 to 20 years
Conditions the study is for
Type 1 Diabetes
What is being tested?
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction - Virtual Reality and Stress tip sheet
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
48 participants
Where
2 sitesUnited States
Study dates
31 Oct 2026to 31 Aug 2028
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 16 to 20 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 16 to 20 years, inclusive
  • Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) for at least six months
  • Have elevated levels of stress reactivity as assessed by the Perceived Stress Reactivity Scale (PSRS)
  • Access to an internet-enabled device on which the participant can participate in virtual study activities

Who cannot join

  • Significant co-morbid mental health problems limiting the participant's ability to engage effectively in the group nature of the intervention (i.e., thought disorders like schizophrenia, severe cognitive impairment, suicidality or homicidality)
  • Co-morbid physical health problems in which diabetes is secondary to another chronic medical illness (e.g., cystic fibrosis) and their medical management differs substantially from that of most youth with T1D
  • Non-English fluency

Trial locations and contacts

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

Study Coordinator contact

1-313-577-6997

MBSR-VR@wayne.edu

United States2 sites
  • Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21218

    Study Coordinator, 1-410-502-8700, ykim227@jhu.edu

    Erica MS Sibinga, MD

  • Wayne State University

    Detroit, Michigan, 48202

    Study Coordinator, 1-313-577-6997, MBSR-VR@wayne.edu

    april.idalski@gmail.com

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Feasibility of MBSR-VR to Reduce Stress Among Emerging Adults With T1D

The goal of this study is to learn if Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) can be delivered using virtual reality (VR) technology to emerging adults (youth 16-20 years old) with type 1 diabetes and high levels of stress reactivity. If successful, MBSR-VR has the potential to reach many people who may be living in different places who might not have access to programs like MBSR. This is important because young adults with a chronic illness like diabetes and high levels of stress have been shown to have worse health than young adults with lower stress and young adults without diabetes. This study has not been designed to determine if MBSR-VR improves the health of young adults with diabetes (improves their glycemic control),their feelings of distress (this includes stress, depression, and anxiety), or their mindfulness (being more aware of their thoughts, feelings, actions, and environment) but we will look to see if people are reporting improvements in these areas.

Read the detailed description

The goal of this research is to assess the feasibility of a highly scalable intervention, Mind-fulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) delivered virtually enhanced with virtual reality (VR), for improving health outcomes through the reduction of stress in a high-risk population, emerging adults (EAs; 16-20 years) with high levels of stress reactivity. The primary aim of this project is to adapt MBSR for virtual delivery enhanced with VR in collaboration with a Youth Community Advisory Board (YCAB, composed of five EAs with T1D) and to assess feasibility and the acceptability of MBSR-VR for EAs with T1D and elevated levels of stress reactivity. This feasibility study will use a multi-center randomized controlled pilot study design with 48 EAs with T1D and elevated stress (as as-sessed with the Perceived Stress Reactivity Scale). EAs will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to MBSR-VR or treat-ment as usual (TAU, standard care control). Three cohorts of 16 participants, 48 total, will be enrolled through two clinical research centers (CRCs) at Wayne State University (WSU) in Detroit, Michigan and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in Baltimore, Maryland. The WSU site will recruit via the T1D Exchange (T1DX) and JHU via their affiliate diabetes clinics. Participants will enter the study during an 8-week period during which research staff will obtain informed consent and assess eligibility via a stress screener; eligible participants will continue with their baseline data collection (T1). Once 16 participants have enrolled, they will be randomized in a single block, 8 to MBSR and 8 to TAU, and those assigned to MBSR will be oriented to the VR technology. All partici-pants will continue to receive standard medical care from their usual diabetes care provider. Treatment groups will run for 9 weeks followed by a 4-week post-treatment data collection (T2) period. The YCAB will assist with monitoring study progress and refining study procedures (e.g., recruitment strategies) over the course of the trial. Feasibility and acceptability will be established through achieving recruitment, retention and intervention bench-marks. Recruitment feasibility will be established by accruing 8 participants every 4 weeks (16 over 8 weeks) and fewer than 15% excluded due to lack of access to an internet-enabled device. Retention feasibility will be established with 85% retention at the end of treatment data collection and <15% of dropouts due to technology challenges that impeded study participation. Intervention feasibility will be established if EAs attend ≥5 of 9 MSBR intervention sessions, ≥90% of the intervention content is delivered, staff collect >75% of self-practice diaries, MBSR fidelity ratings are ≥4 out of 5 on average, and EAs express satisfaction via qualitative interviews and quantitative assessment (≥3 out of 4).

Conditions
Type 1 Diabetes
Being tested
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction - Virtual Reality, Stress tip sheet
Keywords
mindfulness, emerging adults, stress, diabetes, MBSR, virtual reality
Medical subject headings
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Diabetes Mellitus

What participants receive

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

  • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction - Virtual RealityBehavioural

    Also called MBSR-VR

    Participants will receive group-delivered MBSR adapted for emerging adults with type 1 diabetes and virtual delivery including virtual reality technology. The intervention consists of instruction and practice in meditation, use of mindfulness techniques, the mind-body connection, and group discussions focused on mindfulness practice. MBSR intervention content includes 1) practicing a variety of mindfulness meditations, including sitting meditation, walking meditation, body scan, and mindful movement/gentle yoga; 2) learning to pay attention to, observe and describe moment-to moment experience in a way that promotes acceptance; 3) understanding stress reactions (stress symptoms, causes, effects) and how to create a mindful response to stressful situations; and 4) facilitators and barriers to applying mindfulness to everyday activities including eating, listening, communicating, walking and other activities.

  • Stress tip sheetOther

    Participants will receive an educational stress management tip sheet developed by the American Diabetes Association. The resource provides information about the relationship between stress and diabetes, strategies for recognizing signs of stress, and practical techniques for coping with stress, including relaxation, physical activity, social support, and healthy self-care behaviors.

Study groups in NCT07793097
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
MBSR-VRExperimentalParticipants will receive a 9-week virtually delivered Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program enhanced with virtual reality (MBSR-VR). The intervention includes instructor-led mindfulness training, guided meditation practices, and home-based mindfulness exercises delivered remotely using video conferencing and virtual reality technology. Participants will be asked to complete weekly sessions and engage in regular mindfulness practice throughout the intervention period.
Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction - Virtual Reality
Treatment as Usual (TAU)OtherEmerging adults assigned to TAU will be offered a stress management tip sheet and will otherwise continue to manage their stress using their usual manner. No other treatment services will be offered and they will not be prevented from seeking alternative treatment independent of the research study.
Receives: Other: Stress tip sheet

What is being measured

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

  1. Recruitment Feasibility / Number Screened

    The ability to successfully identify and screen for study eligibility the target number of participants within the planned study timeline.

    Measured: From recruitment initiation to recruitment termination / 18 months

  2. Recruitment Feasibility / Number Enrolled

    The ability to successfully enroll the target number of participants within the planned study timeline.

    Measured: From recruitment initiation to recruitment termination / 18 months

  3. Retention Feasibility / Number Retained

    The ability to successfully retain participants in the study.

    Measured: From date of first participant enrollment to date of last participant completion / 18 months

  4. Intervention Feasibility / Number of MBSR treatment sessions attended

    Participants' willingness and ability to engage with and complete the intervention as designed.

    Measured: From date of treatment initiation to date of treatment termination / 9 weeks

  5. Intervention Fidelity / Concise Fidelity for Mindfulness-Based Interventions (CoFi-MBI)

    The CoFi-MBI assesses three domains of intervention fidelity: content delivery (6 Y/N items), participant engagement (5-point Likert scale, 2 items), and technology challenges (5-point Likert scale, 1 item).Cohort level summary scales are calculated as the percentage of sessions each content element was present with higher scores indicating greater fidelity, the mean level of participant engagement with higher scores indicating greater fidelity, and technology obstacles experienced across sessions with lower scores indicating greater fidelity.

    Measured: From date of treatment initiation to date of treatment termination / 9 weeks

  6. Intervention Acceptability / 18) Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM) | Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM) | Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM)

    Participants' satisfaction with the intervention protocol in 3 domains assessed with 4 items in each domain: acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. Scores are computed by taking the mean of the 4 items comprising each scale with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction.

    Measured: From date of treatment initiation to date of treatment termination / 9 weeks

  7. Glycemic control / Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)

    Hb1Ac will be obtained by using the Accubase A1c test kit

    Measured: Baseline/0 month, Treatment End/3 months

  8. Glycemic control / Mean blood glucose

    Mean blood glucose will be obtained via 14-day manual download of glucometer data or direct download of continuous glucose monitor (CGM) data

    Measured: Baseline/0 month, Treatment End/3 months

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Psychological distress / Stress Reactivity

    Stress Reactivity will be assessed using the 23-item Perceived Stress Reactivity Scale (PSRS), a psychometrically valid, self-report measure assessing individuals' perceived reactivity to work overload, social evaluation, social conflicts, failure, and prolonged reactivity. A mean PSRS scores >18 in males and >23 in females is the cut point defining "high stress reactivity".

    Measured: Baseline/0 month, Treatment End/3 months

  2. Psychological distress / Perceived stress

    General psychological stress will be measured with the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), a self-report questionnaire assessing perceptions of stress.

    Measured: Baseline/0 month, Treatment End/3 months

  3. Psychological distress / Diabetes-specific stress

    Diabetes-specific stress will be measured using the 20-item Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scale, a self-report questionnaire assessing diabetes-specific emotional distress. Participants use a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 = "no problem" to 4 = "a serious problem" to rate their distress. Items are summed and multiplied by 1.25 to generate a score of 0-100 with higher scores indicating greater emotional distress.

    Measured: Baseline/0 month, Treatment End/3 months

  4. Psychological distress / Depression

    Symptoms of depression will be assessed with 8-item Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Short-Version Depression Scale, a self-report measure assessing negative mood (e.g., sadness, unhappiness), negative self-view (e.g., feelings of worthlessness, self-criticism), loneliness and social alienation, and reduced positive affect and engagement (e.g., difficulty having fun, loss of enjoyment).

    Measured: Baseline/0 month, Treatment End/3 months

  5. Psychological distress / Anxiety

    Symptoms of anxiety will be assessed with 29-item Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Adult Anxiety Scale, a self-report measure assessing fear (e.g., fearfulness, feelings of panic), anxious misery (e.g., worry, dread), hyperarousal (e.g., tension, nervousness, restlessness), and somatic symptoms related to arousal (e.g., cardiovascular symptoms, dizziness).

    Measured: Baseline/0 month, Treatment End/3 months

  6. Mindfulness

    Mindfulness will be measured using the 39-item Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), a self-report measure assessing five behaviors associated with mindfulness: observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-reactivity to inner experience, and non-judging of inner experience.

    Measured: Baseline/0 month, Treatment End/3 months

Timeline

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

  1. First posted28 Aug 2026
  2. Study start31 Oct 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion1 May 2028 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Aug 2028 (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
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
48 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07793097
Sponsor's protocol ID
IRB-25-05-7727
Other IDs
R01DK141816
Acronym
MBSR-VR
Status last verified
Oct 2026
First submitted
11 Aug 2026
Last updated
16 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Deidentified data produced during the project will be preserved and shared under a fully executed data use agreement. IPD data will include non-identifying demographics, biomedical, psychological, behavioral, and treatment delivery information. The final patient level dataset will include demographics, primary and secondary outcomes as well as mediators and treatment delivery data.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction - Virtual Reality and Stress tip sheet in people with Type 1 Diabetes, run by Wayne State University at 2 sites 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 4 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites 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 Study Coordinator (1-313-577-6997, MBSR-VR@wayne.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Recruitment Feasibility / Number Screened (time frame: From recruitment initiation to recruitment termination / 18 months). The study lists 8 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 16 Oct 2026.

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