TU Tough: Mental Toughness Training for College Success

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Stress, Psychological

In brief

The aims of this study are to (1) assess the extent of psychological distress for incoming first-year students at the University of Tulsa (Part 1), (2) assess the impact of "mental toughness" training on the trajectory of psychological well-being and academic success (Part 2), (3) assess the impact of mental toughness training on neural and behavioral reactivity to affective stimuli and decisions (Part 3), and (4) examine genetic markers of resiliency in college populations and interactions between genetic markers and response to mental toughness training (Part 2).

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02982070

Run by

Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Inc.

People needed

538

Starts

2016-09-01

Expected to finish

2023-07-23

Last updated by the study team

2023-08-28

Who can join

Age: 17 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age: 17 years old and over as of the first day of classes at TU for the year they are being enrolled in the study. Due to this, all participants will be 18 years of age or older when completing Year 2 of the longitudinal aspect of the study (Part 2, Component B and C). A separate section concerning the inclusion of minors has been included below.
• Are an incoming first year student at the University of Tulsa
• All genders
• All races
• Able to provide informed consent (or, if 17, to have their parents complete informed consent and the minor complete informed assent).
• Have sufficient proficiency in English language to understand and complete interviews, questionnaires, and all other study procedures.
• Have regular access to a personal, campus, or other computer on which to complete online surveys.
• For Part 3 only (neuroimaging portion), participants must have at least normative levels of perceived stress (>21), as determined by the mean score from the initial survey session completed under protocol 2015-010. This is to identify participants who have the greatest potential to show demonstrable symptomatic change with mental toughness training.
• Exclusion Criteria (for Part 3, neuroimaging portion only):
• Has a history of unstable liver or renal insufficiency; glaucoma; significant and unstable cardiac, vascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurologic, hematologic, rheumatologic, or metabolic disturbance; or any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would make participation not be in the best interest (e.g., compromise the well-being) of the subject or that could prevent, limit, or confound the protocol-specified assessments.
• Current use of a medication that could potentially affect brain functioning (e.g., stimulants, antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, anti-hypertensives). Inclusion of individuals reporting other types of medications or supplements not listed or considered thus far will be at the discretion of the PI according to evidence in the literature of it affecting brain function or brain blood flow.
• MRI contraindications including: cardiac pacemaker, metal fragments in eyes/skin/body (shrapnel), aortic/aneurysm clips, prosthesis, by-pass surgery/coronary artery clips, hearing aid, heart valve replacement, shunt (ventricular or spinal), electrodes, metal plates/pins/screws/wires, or neuro/bio-stimulators (TENS unit), persons who have ever been a professional metal worker/welder, history of eye surgery/eyes washed out because of metal, vision problems uncorrectable with lenses, inability to lie still on one's back for 60-120 minutes; prior neurosurgery; tattoos or cosmetic makeup with metal dyes, unwillingness to remove body piercings, and pregnancy.
• Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (>30 min. loss of consciousness or >24 hours posttraumatic amnesia) or other neurocognitive disorder with evidence of neurological deficits, neurological disorders, or severe or unstable medical conditions that might be compromised by participation in the study (to be determined by primary care provider)
• Non-correctable vision or hearing problems

Where it is running

• The University of Tulsa — Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
• Laureate Institute for Brain Research — Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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