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

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. 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.

Conditions

• Type 1 Diabetes

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction - Virtual Reality

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.

OTHER

Stress tip sheet

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

  collaborator NIH

• Wayne State University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• April Idalski Carcone, PhD, MSW · Wayne State University

• Erica MS Sibinga, MD · Johns Hopkins University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

16 Years

Max Age

20 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-09-15

Primary Completion

2028-02-28

Completion

2028-02-28

Countries

• United States

Study Locations