Mindfulness Intervention in Young Adults With a Concussion History

This study is a pilot prospective, feasibility intervention clinical trial. As this is a novel, pilot intervention in the proposed population, the study will utilize an uncontrolled study design where all participants will partake in the six-week, longitudinal mindfulness intervention. All participants will be recruited via the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and all data will be collected via the single site. Participants will complete baseline measures for concussion symptoms, perceived stress, and mindfulness. For the six-week intervention, participants will complete 10-20 minutes of mindfulness-focused exercises and meditations each day. Mindfulness exercises will be completed independently using the LoveYourBrain Foundation Meditation Library, a free, online resource containing traumatic brain injury-focused mindfulness-focused exercises and meditations. Mindfulness-based exercises and meditations to be completed will be chosen by study personnel based on tools utilized in mindfulness-based stress reduction programs that are provided on the LoveYourBrain Meditation Library. Specific mindfulness-based exercises and meditations will include body scan, acceptance, awareness, and breathing. At intervention enrollment participants will be presented with a detailed manual providing them with beginner mindfulness tips and instructions as well as details on the purpose for the intervention. Before beginning the exercises and after being presented the manual, participants will be asked by study personnel if they have any questions or concerns regarding the intervention. Throughout the six-week intervention, study personnel will prompt participants via email and text at the beginning of each week with the specific exercises/meditations to be completed each day for that week. Participants will be prompted via email and text at the end of each week to complete a questionnaire to assess adherence and track concussion symptoms. Participants will have one day to complete the weekly assessment. If it is not completed on that day, study personnel will prompt the participant via email and text for three days. If the assessment is not completed in three days, study personnel will call participants to complete the assessment. At three weeks (halfway through the intervention), study personnel will call participants to complete the weekly assessment and check in on participation. Upon completion of the six-week trial, participants will be prompted via email and text to complete a final assessment including questions regarding adherence, acceptability, feasibility, intervention perceptions, concussion symptoms, perceived stress, and mindfulness. Participants will have one day to complete the final assessment. If they have not completed the final assessment at that time, study personnel will prompt the participant via email and text for three days. If it is not completed after three days, study personnel will call the participant to complete the assessment over the phone.