“Feasibility of Collecting Stress Biomarkers Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness”
The study will examine changes in acute stress (biological and psychological) via salivary cortisol and alpha amylase levels as well as survey measures of self-reported anxiety in response to either (a) a free online guided mindfulness meditation available at (https://www.uclahealth.org/marc/mindful-meditations); (b) a guided mindfulness meditation via virtual reality (https://guidedmeditationvr.com/) or (c) a virtual reality platform of historic photographs and written narratives (https://lookingglassvr.com/). Participants will also complete an interviewer administered survey to measure sociodemographic factors, mental and physical health status, substance use, and medication use and provide a hair sample to measure cortisol.
Behavioral - Virtual Reality with Meditation
The Guided Meditation Virtual Reality is a mindfulness meditation app provided on a virtual reality platform that includes a 10 minute audio meditation for relaxation along with a 3D visualization of natural settings (e.g. forest, beach, mountain).
Behavioral - Audio Control
The UCLA Mindful App is an audio only mindfulness meditation for relaxation called Breath, Sound, Body Meditation that is 12 minutes in length.
Behavioral - Virtual reality Control
The Looking Glass Virtual Reality is a stereographic 3D photo viewer provided on a virtual reality platform featuring photos from around the world dating back to approximately a century ago that participants will view for 10 minutes.
Feasibility of Collecting Stress Biomarkers Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness
NCT04004520
bW6Axa