Evaluating an Expressive Writing Intervention About Communicatively-Restricted Organizational Stressors

Santa Clara University44 enrolled

Overview

This project evaluates the effectiveness of an intervention sought to reduce the physical effects of stress related to those issues that individuals cannot successfully communicate with anyone about. To do this, the investigators will be implementing a writing intervention over the course of the 6-week study. The investigators will be asking all participants to complete questionnaires over the course of the study period. The investigators are also asking participants to provide a small blood sample (from a fingerstick procedure) at two times during the study as well as saliva samples during that same time. The primary research question asks if this intervention procedure is effective. The investigators are evaluating total cholesterol, high sensitivity c-reactive protein, and cortisol.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Stress Disorder

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 110 pounds in weight * Ability to fast for 8 hours prior to laboratory visit * Staff member at Santa Clara University * Certain level of inclusionary pretest stress measure Exclusion Criteria: * Hepatitis * Endocrine Disease * Kidney or Liver Disease * Cancer (in any form) * Cushing's disorder * Rheumatological disorders * Respiratory Disorders * Diabetes * High blood pressure * Low blood pressure * Heart or cardiovascular problems * Chemotherapy * Current use of alpha or beta blockers, steroids, or hormone replacements * Pregnant and/or breastfeeding mothers

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Lipids from baseline

Lipid panel includes total cholesterol, High-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides.

Time frame: Week 1 and Week 6

Change in high-sensitivity c-Reactive Protein from baseline

Time frame: Week 1 and Week 6

Change in Cortisol Awakening Response from Baseline

Measurement of Salivary Cortisol (hydrocortisone, compound-F) as a maximum difference between awakening and 30 minutes after awakening.

Time frame: Week 1 and Week 6

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Perceived Global Stress over time

Psychological measure of stress

Time frame: Week 1, Week 3, Week 6

Change in Organizational Stress over time

Psychological measure of stress as a function of organizational involvement.

Time frame: Week 1, Week 3, Week 6

Change in Perception of Communication Restriction of Stressor over time

Restrictedness of a communicative stressor

Time frame: Week 1, Week 3, Week 6

Evaluating an Expressive Writing Intervention About Communicatively-Restricted Organizational Stressors

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes