The Effects of External Cues Versus Internal Cues Messaging on Heart Rate Variability and Affect

University of Delaware300 enrolled

Overview

This randomized controlled trial will assess the effects of External Cues focused messaging (i.e., government recommendations of MyPlate) compared to Internal Cues focused messaging (i.e., intuitive eating). The investigators will collect data on within-person changes in psychological (e.g. affect) and physiological (e.g. heart rate variability) outcomes in female college students. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two study conditions. In condition one, participants will view a five-minute video focusing on traditional nutrition education principles. In condition two, participants will view a five-minute video focusing on intuitive eating principles.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

300

Conditions

Dietetics Diet, Healthy Nutrition Therapy Affect Autonomic Nervous System

Interventions

Internal Cues Nutrition MessagingOTHER

Participants will view a 5 minute nutrition education video focused on intuitive eating principles.

External Cues Nutrition MessagingOTHER

Participants will view a 5 minute nutrition education video focused on traditional nutrition education principles such as label reading.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 29 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 18-29 years old * identify as female * college student Exclusion Criteria: * outside of the age range of 18-29 years * do not self-identify as female * not able to attend an in-person study visit at the University of Delaware

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

Heart rate variability measures the variation in time between each heartbeat. This will be measured using Firstbeat Electrocardiograms (ECGs) that participants will attach to their chest using two electrodes.

Time frame: HRV will be measured during a 3-minute baseline period and while watching a 5-minute intervention video.

Change in Affect

Affect will be assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), an instrument that asks participants to rank the extent to which they are feeling each of 20 different emotions on a scale of 1-5. The PANAS produces a score from 10-50 for each Positive Affect and Negative Affect, with higher scores indicating higher levels of these states.

Time frame: The PANAS is administered before and immediately after viewing the video.