Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Psychobiological Indicators of Anxiety and Sleep Quality in Young Adults

The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of a 10-week tai chi chuan intervention as a treatment for anxiety and sleep quality in young adults.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Anxiety
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Anxiety Management Education; Behavioral: 10 week tai chi intervention; Behavioral: Enhanced tai chi instruction

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 75
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • North Carolina
    • Boone, North Carolina, United States, 28608
      • Appalachian State University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• mild to severe symptoms of anxiety
• interest in participating in an exercise intervention
• willingness to accept randomization
• provides informed consent
• low or moderate risk for acute cardiovascular event

Exclusion Criteria:

• currently receiving psychotherapy or medication for psychological problems
• current suicide or homicide risk
• current or history of psychosis
• current alcohol or substance dependence
• high risk for an acute cardiovascular event
• current use of prescription drugs with potential to influence the parasympathetic or sympathetic nervous system
• current or previous extensive involvement in mind-body exercise
• symptoms of severe depression

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Anxiety Management Education	Behavioral: Anxiety Management Education; written materials on management of anxiety for self-study
Experimental: 10 week tai chi intervention; 10 week course in Evidence Based Tai Chi meeting 2 times per week	Behavioral: 10 week tai chi intervention; 10 weeks of instruction in Evidence Based Tai Chi meeting 2 times per week
Experimental: Enhanced tai chi instruction; 10 weeks of instruction in Evidence Based Tai Chi meeting 2 times per week plus DVD for home practice	Behavioral: Enhanced tai chi instruction; 10 weeks of instruction in Evidence Based Tai Chi meeting 2 times per week plus DVD for home practice

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Retention of Randomized Subjects During Intervention	Retained subjects are those who are willing to return for complete assessments	10 weeks
Retention of Randomized Subjects for Follow-up	Subjects retained for follow-up are those willing to respond to follow-up assessments	2 months
Adherence to Out-of-class Practice	Subjects are considered adherent to out-of-class practice if he/she practices outside of class twenty times during the 10 week intervention	10 weeks
Adherence to Practice After the Intervention	Subjects are considered adherent to practice after the intervention if they practice an average of 2 times per week.	2 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change From Baseline in State Anxiety Scores	Anxiety was measured by the State Trait Anxiety Inventory - State Scale. Lower scores on this scale reflect better outcomes. Scores can range from 20 to 80.	change from baseline to 4 weeks, 10 weeks, 2 month follow-up
Change From Baseline in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scores	Sleep quality was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Total Score. Lower scores on this scale reflect better outcomes. Scores can range from 0 to 21.	baseline, 4 weeks, 10 weeks, 2 month follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Appalachian State University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Karen L. Caldwell, PhD, Appalachian State University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Caldwell K, Harrison M, Adams M, Quin RH, Greeson J. Developing mindfulness in college students through movement-based courses: effects on self-regulatory self-efficacy, mood, stress, and sleep quality. J Am Coll Health. 2010 Mar-Apr;58(5):433-42. doi: 10.1080/07448480903540481.
• Caldwell K, Harrison M, Adams M, Triplett NT. Effect of Pilates and taiji quan training on self-efficacy, sleep quality, mood, and physical performance of college students. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2009 Apr;13(2):155-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2007.12.001. Epub 2008 Feb 20.
• Caldwell K, Emery L, Harrison M, Greeson J. Changes in mindfulness, well-being, and sleep quality in college students through taijiquan courses: a cohort control study. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Oct;17(10):931-8. doi: 10.1089/acm.2010.0645. Epub 2011 Oct 14.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 15, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 18, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): June 20, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 8, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 6, 2016
• Last Verified: January 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: anxiety; young adults; sleep quality; tai chi chuan
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Anxiety Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: EBT Feasibility