Evaluating the Community Drum Circle

Conditions

• COVID-19
• Mental Health Issue

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

16 Years - 65 Years

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• Communal Drumming — BEHAVIORAL
  Communal drumming
• Communal drumming recordings — BEHAVIORAL
  Recordings of drumming taken from the music made during a previous component of the study

Study Details

Mental health vulnerability due to stress is increased America due to disproportionate effects of social factors such as racism, poverty, education, and criminal justice sentencing. Various meditation and mindfulness approaches have provided evidence of measured reductions in multiple negative dimensions of stress. However, the majority of these studies do not have an adequate representation of Persons of African Descent(PAD) or other marginalized groups and are not designed to be culturally relevant or community based. Music has been shown to alleviate multiple symptoms of stress and has been shown to be a preferred and effective support for meditation and mindfulness. However, its role in stress management in PADs engaged in meditation or mindfulness is seldom studied. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a community-based music mindfulness program on stress management in PAD community members with anxiety and depression during COVID19. Component 2c. Drum Circle Study: Investigators will study the impact of participation in drum circles on anxiety and feelings of connectedness.

Key Dates

Start date

Aug 1, 2024

Status verified

Feb 2026

Primary completion

Mar 31, 2026

Completion

Mar 31, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment

90 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

• Experimental: Drum Circle- Cohort 1
  Cohort 1 will listen together to recordings of drumming and be allowed to drum along while listening. The facilitator will lead participants in procedures such as checking in (e.g. "How are you doing today?" before and after the circle) and breathing exercise.
• Active Comparator: Drum Circle Control Group- Cohort 2
  Control investigations will also be conducted to better understand the contribution communal drumming has on effects of anxiety and connectedness. All control investigations will take place in the same space and at the same frequency as the associated experimental arm but with no drumming. All participants will be asked to complete the same surveys and at the same frequency to those completed in the experimental arm.

Primary Outcome Measure

Rating of Absorption in music pre vs post sessions [ Time Frame: Baseline on day of study visit before drum circle, during drum circle (45min), 30 min after music listening ]

Locations (2)

Find similar trials in New Haven, CT

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