Clinical Research Directory

Health-Related Lifestyle Factors, Sex, and Neural Mechanosensitivity in University Students

This observational cross-sectional study aims to investigate the effects of health-related lifestyle factors and sex on neural mechanosensitivity in university students. Specifically, the study will examine whether alcohol consumption, smoking status, physical activity level, age, body mass index, and sex are associated with pressure pain thresholds of the tibial and peroneal nerves. Participants will be university students aged 18 to 30 years enrolled at Fenerbahçe University who voluntarily agree to participate and provide informed consent. Students with neurological disorders, lower extremity musculoskeletal injury or surgery, acute pain, systemic conditions affecting nerve sensitivity, skin problems at the measurement sites, or use of medications that may influence the measurements will be excluded. Data will be collected face to face. Participants will complete a personal information form including demographic characteristics and lifestyle-related factors. Neural mechanosensitivity will be assessed by measuring pressure pain threshold over the tibial and peroneal nerve regions using a digital algometer. Three measurements will be obtained at each site and the average value will be used for analysis. The study is expected to improve understanding of factors associated with peripheral nerve mechanosensitivity in young adults and may provide a scientific basis for future clinical and epidemiological research.

Development of the Online Mindfulness-based Intervention (Mind Space Application) for Thai-university Students: Phase II

Development of the online mindfulness-based intervention (MFU-mindful Application for Thai university students: Phase II Objectives: Phase I: (October 2025 to September 2026) 1. To develop the mindfulness-based intervention (Mind Space application) for Thai university students. 2. To test the feasibility of the mindfulness-based intervention (Mind space Application) for Thai university students. 3. To determine the effect size of mindfulness-based intervention (Mind space Application) on mental health outcomes for Thai university students: A pilot study. Phase II: (October 2026 to December 2026) 1\. To examine the effects of mindfulness-base intervention (Mindspace Application) on mental health outcomes for Thai university students For this research project, investigators will develop the mindfulness-based intervention (Mindspace application) based on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) by encouraging participants to pay attention to their present thoughts, emotions, feelings, and behaviors without judgment. This attention will help them learn the relationship between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and their mental health outcomes (mindfulness, stress, anxiety, and depression), though. mindfulness practice (body scan, sitting meditation, and mindful movement) using an online application). Furthermore, investigators will teach participants how to shape their thoughts and manage their wandering minds and negative and irritable thoughts. Finally, participants will learn how to become an individual with reasonable flexibility and positive thoughts. Settings: the researchers plan to conduct the program in three universities in Northern Thailand. Population and sample: Population: Thai university students who are between years 1 and 4 (undergraduate). Sample: Phase I: Mae Fah Luang University, Phayao University, and Utraradit University students who are studying during the Fall semester, year 2026. Investigators will specifically recruit volunteers who: Inclusion criteria: 1. are current studying in years 1-4 of undergraduate programs 2. can read, speak, and write in Thai 3. be risk of the mental health problem (score higher than 6 on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) 4. have no history of learning disorders (ADHD, other specific learning disorders) 5. have no psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, adjustment disorders, delusion disorders, and substance use disorders) 6. have no meditation experience within the past 6 months Exclusion criteria: 1. have a limitation for mindful movement (hearing loss, blindness, and movement limitations) 2. They may feel uncomfortable or distressed and may not be able to participate in each mindfulness-based intervention session. Conceptual frameworks. For this research project, the investigators will develop and refine an online mindfulness-based intervention, the Mind Space Application, grounded in the principles of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR; Kabat-Zinn, 2003) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT; Segal et al., 2002). The program is designed to cultivate nonjudgmental awareness of thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors among university students (Kabat-Zinn, 2003). In addition, it aims to enhance participants' understanding of the interrelationships among cognitions, emotions, affective experiences, and behaviors that contribute to psychological distress, including stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The intervention incorporates core mindfulness practices delivered via an online application, including body scan exercises, sitting meditation, and mindfulness-based movement for relaxation. Furthermore, participants will be guided to develop cognitive awareness and adaptive responses to internal and external stressors, with particular emphasis on recognizing and managing automatic thoughts (wandering mind), negative thoughts, and irrational or maladaptive cognitions. Through this process, participants are encouraged to cultivate more rational, flexible, and positive thinking patterns. The researchers anticipate that this program will enhance mindfulness skills and, in turn, contribute to reductions in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among the study participants. The effectiveness of the Mind Space application will be examined across both short-term and long-term periods. Short-term effects will be assessed at baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks), while long-term effectiveness will be evaluated at a 6-month follow-up. Outcomes in the intervention group will be compared with those in a control group. The primary outcome variables include mental health indicators-stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms-as well as levels of mindfulness among Thai university students. Data will be analyzed using a one-way repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).

Effect of Sun Tai Chi on the Cardiopulmonary System and Mental Health in University Students

Currently, university students face physical and mental health issues, which are reflected in low levels of physical activity, a decline in healthy eating behaviors, and a high prevalence of mental health symptoms such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Therefore, it is necessary to develop safe, effective, and sustainable interventions that support comprehensive health and provide formative experiences that reinforce the importance of developing healthy lifestyle habits and self-care. In this regard, Tai Chi has been shown to offer physical and mental health benefits. Tai Chi is a low- to moderate-intensity exercise with low joint impact, which facilitates the transition from a sedentary to an active lifestyle. Considering the health problems experienced by university students, it is proposed that a Tai Chi intervention could help produce beneficial effects on both physical and mental health. In this context, the present study aims to implement Tai Chi classes with the objective of determining their effect on the cardiac autonomic system, mental health, and the perception of benefits, facilitators, and barriers among participating university students compared to a control group.

Perfectionism and Daily Coping and Emotion Regulation Processes: A Trial of Two Explanatory Feedback Interventions

Over the past three decades, perfectionism has received increasing theoretical and empirical attention as a cognitive-personality factor that increases vulnerability to a wide range of psychological problems, including depression and anxiety. Although mediators and moderators of the link between perfectionism and well-being have been identified, the direct clinical utility of these findings has not been a focus. The Perfectionism and Coping Processes Model - Explanatory Feedback Intervention (PCPM-EFI) draws on previous findings and individually analyzes participant responses to perfectionism measures and online daily questionnaires of stress, coping, and mood over 7 days. The EFI provides an individualized slideshow presentation that is delivered in a single 45-60 minute session by a student research assistant to address how stress and coping patterns trigger and maintain negative affect and (lower) positive affect in the participant's daily life. A recent waitlist controlled feasibility trial compared the PCPM-EFI condition with a waitlist control condition over 4 weeks in 176 university students with higher SC perfectionism, with individualized feedback delivered one-on-one by student trainees in-person or remotely through videoconferencing. The feasibility of the individualized analyses of each participant's daily data was supported by identifying daily trigger patterns, maintenance tendencies, strengths, common triggers, and best targets for reducing negative mood and increasing positive mood across several stressors for each participant. Participant ratings indicated that the comprehensive feedback was coherent and functional. Participants in the EFI condition, compared to those in the control condition, reported increases in empowerment, coping self-efficacy, and problem-focused coping, as well as decreases in depressive and anxious symptoms. Between-group effect sizes were moderate-to-large. There were reliable improvements in empowerment and depressive symptoms for 56% and 36%, respectively, of participants in the EFI condition. These findings demonstrate the broad applicability, conceptual utility, and effectiveness of the PCPM-EFI for self-critical perfectionistic individuals. Given these promising findings, research is needed to examine the utility of customizing daily emotion regulation findings, and the complementary effects of providing meaningful feedback on well-being. The present study will build on the promising findings of the PCPM-EFI by using a 7-day daily diary methodology to test a complementary EFI on perfectionism and emotion regulation processes (e.g., self-compassion, mindfulness, experiential avoidance, rumination, reappraisal) delivered online through videoconferencing in a sample of university students with higher self-critical perfectionism. Based on the Perfectionism and Emotion Regulation Processes Model (PERPM), the PERPM-EFI follows the same structure as the PCPM-EFI to provide individualized analyses drawn from previous findings. The results of a pilot study of 12 university students with higher SC perfectionism suggest that the PERPM-EFI is broadly applicable, conceptually useful, and effective. Specifically, despite the small sample size, participants reported increases in empowerment, mindfulness, self-compassion, and emotional self-awareness, as well as decreases in depressive and anxious symptoms. The present study will use a randomized control design to examine whether the PCPM-EFI plus PERPM-EFI can better improve well-being, relative to providing no feedback, the PERPM-EFI alone, or PCPM-EFI alone in the context of a 4-week longitudinal study with three time points in a sample of 180 university students. The four conditions will be: (a) waitlist control condition, (b) PCPM-EFI, (c) PERPM-EFI, and (d) PCPM-EFI plus PERPM-EFI. It is hypothesized that all three EFI conditions will yield better outcomes than the waitlist control condition. It is also hypothesized that the combined PCPM-EFI plus PERPM-EFI condition will be superior to the PCPM-EFI condition and PERPM-EFI condition on empowerment (primary outcome) and secondary symptom outcomes (i.e., depressive symptoms, anxious symptoms, negative affect, positive affect). It is also expected that participants in the PCPM-EFI plus PERPM-EFI condition and PCPM-EFI condition will exhibit larger increases in coping self-efficacy and problem-focused coping than participants in the PERPM-EFI condition. On the other hand, it is hypothesized that participants in the PCPM-EFI plus PERPM-EFI condition and PERPM-EFI condition will exhibit larger increases in self-compassion, mindfulness, and emotional self-awareness than participants in the PCPM-EFI condition. If the feedback interventions are shown to be efficacious, the interventions could be offered to universities, work places, clinical settings, and other organizations.

The Effects of Qigong Exercises on Acute Anxiety, Mood, and Reaction Time Among Occupational Therapy Students

The goal of this study is to examine the short-term effects of a single session of Baduanjin Qigong, a traditional mind-body exercise, on anxiety, mood, and reaction time in young adults studying occupational therapy. Baduanjin is a gentle form of Qigong that combines slow and rhythmic movements, breathing awareness, and mental focus. It has been practiced for centuries in China and has recently gained attention worldwide as a complementary therapy for improving mental, physical, and cognitive health. University students are an important group to study because they often experience high levels of stress due to academic pressure, economic uncertainty, social expectations, and concerns about the future. These factors can increase vulnerability to problems such as anxiety, depression, attention difficulties, and sleep problems. While many studies have explored long-term non-drug interventions, there are still very few trials investigating immediate, short-term benefits of Qigong in young adult populations. Previous research has shown that Baduanjin Qigong can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, while also improving mood and physical health. For example, studies with college students have reported reductions in anxiety and depression, improvements in body mass index, lung function, and overall well-being after regular Baduanjin practice. Meta-analyses suggest that Baduanjin is especially effective in lowering stress compared to other traditional exercises. Some studies even found that just one 60-minute Qigong session can significantly reduce anxiety and improve mood, as measured by standard psychological tools. These findings suggest that Qigong can work not only as a long-term therapy but also as a rapid relief method in stressful situations. In Turkey, most Qigong studies have focused on older adults or patient groups, showing benefits such as improved balance, reduced risk of falls, and better sleep quality. However, there are almost no experimental studies on the acute (short-term) psychological and cognitive effects of Qigong in young adults. This study aims to fill that gap. What will happen in this study? The study will recruit occupational therapy students. Each participant will attend a single 60-minute Baduanjin session. The design is double-blind, randomized, and crossover, which means that participants and evaluators will not know which condition they are assigned to, and each participant will experience both the Qigong session and a control condition on different days. A short "wash-out" period will separate the sessions to ensure accurate results. What will be measured? Participants' anxiety, mood, and reaction time will be tested before and after the Qigong session. Anxiety will be measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y1). Mood will be measured using the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Reaction time will be measured using a computerized test. Why is this important? This study will help us understand whether a single Qigong session can provide immediate psychological relief and improve mental focus for university students. If effective, Qigong could be considered a simple, low-cost, and accessible complementary practice to support student well-being in academic and daily life. The findings may also contribute to future health promotion programs targeting young adults.

Impact of Gender Difference and Exercise Intensities on Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Among University Students

This study was done to investigate the impact of gender differences and exercise intensities on depression and anxiety symptoms among university students

The Effects of Smoking on Sleep Quality, Fatigue and Perceived Stress

Tobacco use is a major cause of death resulting from cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and pulmonary disorders. It is also a risk factor for respiratory and other infections, osteoporosis, diabetes, reproductive disorders, adverse surgical outcomes and delayed wound healing, as well as duodenal and gastric ulcers \[1\]. Studies project that the number of deaths due to smoking will rise to 8.4 million by 2030 \[2\]. According to the Tobacco Atlas, in Turkey, 83,100 people die each year due to smoking-related causes. The negative effects of smoking are not limited to chronic diseases; it can also affect the quality of daily life. In a study involving 3,516 participants, it was reported that both male and female smokers experienced significantly greater difficulty falling asleep compared to non-smokers. They also suffered from non-restorative sleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and difficulty falling back asleep \[3\]. Furthermore, literature has demonstrated a significant relationship between smoking and perceived stress \[4\]. Perceived stress is defined as "the feelings or thoughts an individual has about how much stress they are under during a particular period" \[5\]. Although smoking may temporarily alleviate perceived stress, studies suggest it may actually lead to negative emotional states or exacerbate stress in the long run \[6, 7\]. In addition, it has been found that smokers tend to feel more tired and become fatigued more quickly compared to non-smokers \[8, 9\]. The majority of smokers begin smoking during adolescence \[10\]. In their study, Burt et al. reported that 71% of smokers started smoking at or before the age of 18 \[11\]. The university period is a critical phase in young individuals' lives, and habits formed during this time can have long-term health consequences. Smoking can affect not only health but also academic performance \[12\]. Factors such as stress \[13\], sleep quality \[14\], and fatigue \[15\], which have previously been studied in smokers, have also been shown to negatively impact academic achievement. Although academic success will not be directly evaluated in our study, considering the target population, the potential secondary effect of smoking on academic performance further underscores the significance of our research. This study is designed to compare university students who smoke and those who do not in terms of sleep quality, fatigue, and perceived stress levels. Although there are existing studies that examine these parameters individually or in different populations, to our knowledge, no study has simultaneously assessed all of these factors in a university student sample. Most studies in this field focus on the general population; however, university students represent a specific group due to their stressful academic lives, social pressures, and lifestyle changes. The originality of our study lies in its focus on university students and its comprehensive approach to examining multiple variables concurrently. In this context, the planned research will provide more specific and detailed insights into the factors associated with nicotine dependence and their interrelationships.

Comparison of the Impact of Physical Activity Attitude Between Different Department University Students

In recent years, the level of physical activity among university students has been steadily decreasing, and young people are leading a sedentary lifestyle. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the perspectives and attitudes towards physical activity of students from the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation department, who are expected to have awareness of physical activity due to their undergraduate education, with students from the Software Engineering department, who do not receive education on this subject. The study will also investigate how these perspectives and attitudes affect their level of physical activity and postural awareness.Software Engineering students and Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation department students between the ages of 20-25, studying in the 3rd and 4th grades at Fırat University, will be included in the study. A questionnaire regarding the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, Physical Activity Attitude Scale, International Physical Activity Survey Short Form, Postural Awareness Scale Turkish Version will be used as data collection tools.

Mindfulness in University Students. ATENEU Program

The study aims to examine the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention and a mindfulness-based intervention with virtual reality on occupational balance and on the reduction of psychological distress in university students (i.e. stress, anxiety and depression). The specific objectives will be to examine the effects of the intervention on other variables related to mental health, psychological functioning and occupations, and their maintenance at three months.

Sensory Profile and Academic Achievement in Students

Senses are fundamental to the neurological system, enabling individuals to perceive their bodies and interact with their surroundings. While the five primary senses-vision, smell, hearing, taste, and touch-are well known, humans also possess three "hidden" senses: the vestibular sense (movement and gravity), proprioception (body position), and interoception (internal organs). Sensory integration, as defined by Dr. Jean Ayres, is the process of receiving, processing, and generating motor responses to sensory input, which influences learning, behaviors, and personality traits. Dr. Winnie Dunn's "Four Quadrant Model of Sensory Processing" further explores how individuals respond to sensory stimuli based on their neurological thresholds and behavioral responses. The model includes four quadrants: low registration, sensation seeking, sensory sensitivity, and sensation avoiding, each of which affects behaviors in daily life, including educational settings. For example, a student with low registration may need more stimuli to focus, while a sensation-avoiding student may prefer quieter environments. Research shows that sensory processing influences academic achievement, yet studies on this relationship in young adults are limited. This study aims to assess how sensory processing impacts academic success among university students.

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence, Social Behavior, Sleep Quality and Academic Success in Students Studying in Health-Related Departments

This study aims to examine the relationships between emotional intelligence, positive social behavior, sleep quality, and academic achievement among students enrolled in health-related academic programs. Specifically, the study will investigate how emotional intelligence levels influence students' social behaviors and academic performance, while also assessing the role of sleep quality in these variables. Data will be collected using the Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Positive Social Behavior Scale, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The findings of this study are expected to provide valuable insights into how emotional intelligence and sleep quality impact students' academic success and social behavior.

The Relationship Between Health Literacy, Physical Activity, Back Pain and Posture Habits in University Students

This study aims to investigate the relationship between health literacy, physical activity, back pain, and posture habits among university students. The Health Literacy Scale, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Posture Habits Questionnaire for Back Health in Daily Activities will be used to collect data from participants. Health literacy will be assessed in terms of individuals' ability to access, understand, and apply health-related information, while physical activity levels and posture habits will be examined for their influence on back pain. The findings are expected to shed light on the role of health literacy in promoting healthier physical activity and posture habits, providing insights for strategies to improve back health in this population.

EndeavorOTC® Research Study in College Students

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of a digital therapeutic (EndeavorOTC®, also known as AKL-T01A) on clinical symptoms of executive and cognitive functioning in a real-world sample of university students. This study aims to answer whether EndeavorOTC represents a useful intervention for targeting broad cognitive and emotional health among university students.

Active Young, Healthy Mind. The YoungFitT Project

The main objective of YoungFitT Project is to study the effect and neuro-psycho-biological mechanisms of mind and body interventions, also in the form of virtual reality (VR), on brain health, cognitive and psychological well-being of college students. The investigators have adopted an inter and multidisciplinary and multimodal approach to provide a more integrative perspective using cognitive, psychological, biochemical, and neuroimaging measurements. The investigators hypothesize that all three interventions Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Qigong, and High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) will produce gains in cognitive functions and psychological well-being at three months compared to baseline. Also, all three interventions will induce changes in the microbiota and brain structure and function. Finally, using a VR environment for these interventions will provide greater adherence and cognitive and psychological well-being benefits than conventional training.