An interventional study of Contemplative-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) in Racism and Stress, Psychological, sponsored by Rockefeller University. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-09.
Sponsored by Rockefeller University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
The primary aim of this study is to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of CBRT intervention among African Americans compared to a wait-list control group. The specific objectives include assessing feasibility, gathering participant feedback, evaluating CBRT's impact on psychological and biological outcomes, and exploring the mediating role of mindfulness.
The study is a 1-group pretest-posttest design. 20 African American participants will be recruited from various sources and undergo baseline and follow-up assessments. The intervention involves a 10-week CBRT program focusing on mindfulness, compassion, self-awareness, and stress-reduction techniques. Measures include sociodemographics and psychological measures (race-based stress, depression, perceived stress, quality of life, social connectedness, sleep, and resilience) and biological measures ( allostatic load, saliva cortisol, telomere length, and gene expression. Data is collected at baseline and 10 weeks.
Racism and racial discrimination profoundly affect mental and physical health among historically disenfranchised ethnic groups, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). The negative health impacts are evident in elevated mortality rates, early disease onset, and increased comorbidity burden among BIPOC individuals. This study seeks to address these health disparities by investigating the potential of Contemplative-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) to mitigate the impact of racism-related stress. CBRT holds promise in countering the neurobiological changes attributed to chronic stress, aligning with the "weathering hypothesis" and Allostatic load theory.
The primary aim of this pilot study is to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of CBRT intervention among African Americans compared to a waitlist control group. The specific objectives include assessing feasibility, gathering participant feedback, evaluating CBRT's impact on psychological and biological outcomes, and exploring the mediating role of mindfulness.
The study utilizes a one-group pretest-posttest design, where participants are recruited from various sources and undergo baseline and follow-up assessments. The intervention involves a ten-week Cognitive-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) program focusing on developing mindfulness, compassion, self-awareness, and stress-reduction techniques. The study measures include socio-demographics and psychological measures such as race-based stress, depression, perceived stress, quality of life, social connectedness, sleep, and resilience, as well as biological measures including allostatic load, saliva cortisol, telomere length, and gene expression. Data is collected at baseline and after ten weeks of the program.
Feasibility will be assessed based on recruitment rates, retention, attendance, and qualitative feedback. The impact of CBRT will be evaluated through various statistical analyses, considering intention-to-treat principles and controlling for covariates. Preliminary findings from a pilot investigation with 20 African-American participants suggest associations between psychological measures, mindfulness, sleep, coping, resilience, and racism-induced stress. These results underscore the potential of CBRT in addressing complex relationships among these factors. By investigating the potential benefits of CBRT in alleviating racism-induced stress and associated health disparities, this research aims to contribute insights into mindfulness-based interventions to address racism-related stress and its broader implications for the well-being of BIPOC communities.
47 studies on the registry are indexed under Racism; 8 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 22 is below the median of 106 across 34 interventional studies indexed under Racism.
Browse Racism studies →Rockefeller University is the lead sponsor of 123 studies on the registry; 3 are open to participants now.
Of its 14 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 6 (43%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The intervention group will undergo a 10-week program addressing mindfulness, compassion, social-emotional self-care, exposing stress-reactive habits, self-awareness, visualization, and deep breathing.
Behavioral: Contemplative-Based Resilience Training (CBRT)
The intervention is a 10-week program that will address mindfulness, compassion, social-emotional self-care, exposing stress-reactive habits, self-awareness, visualization, and deep breathing. The rationale for applying this mindfulness intervention to promote psychological resilience following the development of race-based traumatic symptoms is based on the notion that mindfulness promotes acceptance of complex thoughts and feelings, reduces rumination, and improves psychological function, cognitive flexibility, and coping processes.
Feasibility of Study
number of participants who complete the study
Time frame: 10 weeks
Acceptability of CBRT (Qualitative Interview Findings)
Acceptability was assessed using structured qualitative exit interviews conducted post-intervention. Interview transcripts were reviewed using structured thematic coding. Predefined themes reflecting participant experience were identified, including expectations alignment, perceived usefulness of meditation/emotional regulation tools, facilitator support, group dynamics, session structure, and behavioral impact. For reporting purposes, the number of participants who explicitly endorsed each theme during the interview was counted. Participants could endorse more than one theme; therefore, totals across themes do not sum to the overall sample size. Endorsement reflects a clear expression of agreement, perceived benefit, or experience related to the theme during qualitative analysis.
Time frame: at the end of the 10 week intervention
Allostatic Load Composite Score (NHANES Clinically Relevant Scoring 0-11 )
Allostatic load score is a composite score based on eleven biomarkers. Risk categories for the level of each biomarker are defined and points, high (Hi) (1 point), moderate (Mod) (0.5 points), or low (low) (0 points), are awarded based on established norms in clinical medicine. Allostatic Load is the sum of the points from the 11 biomarkers. High scores indicate a more significant risk. 1\) SBP: Hi ≥ 150 mmHg, Mod 120 to 149 mmHg, Low \< 120 mmHg; 2) DBP: Hi ≥ 90 mmHg, Mod 80 to 89 mmHg, Low \< 80 mmHg; 3) Total cholesterol: Hi ≥ 240 mg/dL, Mod 200 to 239 mg/dL, Low \< 200 mg/dL; 4) HDL cholesterol: Hi \< 40 mg/dL, Mod 40 to 59 mg/dL, Low \> 60 mg/dL; 5) Total/HDL cholesterol ratio: Hi ≥ 6, Mod 5 to \< 6, Low \< 5; 6) HgbA1C: Hi ≥ 6.5%, Mod 5.7 to \< 6.5%, Low \< 5.7%; 7) Waist-hip ratio (women): Hi ≥ 0.85, Mod \> 0.80 to \< 0.85, Low ≤ 0.80; Waist-hip ratio (men): Hi ≥ 1.0, Mod \> 0.95 to \< 1.0, Low ≤ 0.95; 8); BMI: Hi ≥ 30 kg/m2, Mod 25
Time frame: Baseline (pre-CBT) to 10 weeks (post-CBT)
Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR)
Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) was calculated as the difference between salivary cortisol concentration measured 30 minutes after awakening and at waking (µg/dL). Positive values reflect a physiologic increase in cortisol following awakening.
Time frame: Baseline (Pre-CBRT) and 10 weeks (Post-CBRT)
Composite CTRA Gene Expression Score
CTRA gene expression was assessed using genome-wide transcriptional profiling of peripheral blood samples. Expression levels of 45 pre-specified CTRA indicator genes were quantified as log2-transformed mRNA abundance values. Gene expression values were mean-centered and weighted using established contrast scores reflecting pro-inflammatory and antiviral gene contributions. A composite CTRA score was calculated by averaging the weighted expression values across all genes, with higher scores indicating greater pro-inflammatory and lower antiviral gene expression activity.
Time frame: comparison from baseline (pre-CBT) to 10 weeks (post-CBT)
Telomere Length
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR )will determine average telomere length.
Time frame: 10 weeks
Participants were recruited through community outreach, flyers, and word of mouth in New York City. Eligibility: self-identified African American adults between 18 and 50 years of age. A total of 35 individuals were screened, and 22 were enrolled.
| Milestone | Contemplative-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) |
|---|---|
| Started | 21 |
| Completed | 19 |
| Not completed | 2 |
| Withdrew: Two (2) participants did not provide the biological sample for the outcome measure. | 2 |
number of participants who complete the study
| Participants | Contemplative-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) |
|---|---|
| Feasibility of Study | 19 |
Acceptability was assessed using structured qualitative exit interviews conducted post-intervention. Interview transcripts were reviewed using structured thematic coding. Predefined themes reflecting participant experience were identified, including expectations alignment, perceived usefulness of meditation/emotional regulation tools, facilitator support, group dynamics, session structure, and behavioral impact. For reporting purposes, the number of participants who explicitly endorsed each theme during the interview was counted. Participants could endorse more than one theme; therefore, totals across themes do not sum to the overall sample size. Endorsement reflects a clear expression of agreement, perceived benefit, or experience related to the theme during qualitative analysis.
| Participants | Contemplative-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) |
|---|---|
| Intervention Met Expectations | 6 |
| Meditation and Tools Were Useful | 17 |
| Group Dynamics Were Helpful | 11 |
| Session Structure Was Appropriate | 5 |
| Intervention Changed Behaviors | 12 |
Allostatic load score is a composite score based on eleven biomarkers. Risk categories for the level of each biomarker are defined and points, high (Hi) (1 point), moderate (Mod) (0.5 points), or low (low) (0 points), are awarded based on established norms in clinical medicine. Allostatic Load is the sum of the points from the 11 biomarkers. High scores indicate a more significant risk. 1\) SBP: Hi ≥ 150 mmHg, Mod 120 to 149 mmHg, Low \< 120 mmHg; 2) DBP: Hi ≥ 90 mmHg, Mod 80 to 89 mmHg, Low \< 80 mmHg; 3) Total cholesterol: Hi ≥ 240 mg/dL, Mod 200 to 239 mg/dL, Low \< 200 mg/dL; 4) HDL cholesterol: Hi \< 40 mg/dL, Mod 40 to 59 mg/dL, Low \> 60 mg/dL; 5) Total/HDL cholesterol ratio: Hi ≥ 6, Mod 5 to \< 6, Low \< 5; 6) HgbA1C: Hi ≥ 6.5%, Mod 5.7 to \< 6.5%, Low \< 5.7%; 7) Waist-hip ratio (women): Hi ≥ 0.85, Mod \> 0.80 to \< 0.85, Low ≤ 0.80; Waist-hip ratio (men): Hi ≥ 1.0, Mod \> 0.95 to \< 1.0, Low ≤ 0.95; 8); BMI: Hi ≥ 30 kg/m2, Mod 25
| points | Contemplative-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) |
|---|---|
| Baseline Allostatic Load | 2.11 ± 0.94 |
| Post-CBRT Allostatic Load | 2 ± 0.97 |
Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) was calculated as the difference between salivary cortisol concentration measured 30 minutes after awakening and at waking (µg/dL). Positive values reflect a physiologic increase in cortisol following awakening.
| µg/dL | Contemplative-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) |
|---|---|
| Baseline CAR | .100 ± .355 |
| Post-CBRT CAR | -0.025 ± 0.336 |
CTRA gene expression was assessed using genome-wide transcriptional profiling of peripheral blood samples. Expression levels of 45 pre-specified CTRA indicator genes were quantified as log2-transformed mRNA abundance values. Gene expression values were mean-centered and weighted using established contrast scores reflecting pro-inflammatory and antiviral gene contributions. A composite CTRA score was calculated by averaging the weighted expression values across all genes, with higher scores indicating greater pro-inflammatory and lower antiviral gene expression activity.
| log2 mRNA expression (composite score) | Contemplative-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) |
|---|---|
| Baseline | 6.20 ± 0.17 |
| 10 weeks Post CBRT | 6.19 ± 0.17 |
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR )will determine average telomere length.
No measurements were reported for this outcome.
Collected over From enrollment through completion of the 10-week intervention period. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.
| Group | Deaths | Serious | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contemplative-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) | 0/21 (0%) | 1/21 (4.8%) | 0/21 (0%) |
| Event | Contemplative-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) |
|---|---|
| Cervical surgery for pre-existing chronic pain condition (unrelated to intervention)Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 1/21 |
Only participants who completed the intervention and all assessments (N=19) are included in the baseline analysis population.
| Age, Customized(years) | Contemplative-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) |
|---|---|
| Age | 36.1 ± 8 |
| Sex: Female, Male(Participants) | Contemplative-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) |
|---|---|
| Female | 11 |
| Male | 8 |
| Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants) | Contemplative-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 |
| Asian | 0 |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 |
| Black or African American | 19 |
| White | 0 |
| More than one race | 0 |
| Unknown or Not Reported | 0 |
PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Plan to share: No
Ran from Feb 2024 to primary completion in Aug 2024, 5 months.
Results were first posted in Apr 2026, 1 year 8 months after primary completion.
Of 29 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Racism, half reached primary completion within 32 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 14 and three quarters within 41. This study's 5 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 29 studies reached it within 32 months; a quarter within 14 and three quarters within 41.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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