Recruiting

Sound Bowl Meditation

Sponsor:

Ohio State University

Code:

NCT07626320

Conditions

Stress

Anxiety

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Sound Bowl Meditation

Study Details

Brief summary:

Being a primary caregiver for a family member or friend can be physically and emotionally demanding leaving little time for the unpaid caregiver's professional pursuits, personal appointments, and self-care. Primary caregivers are often overwhelmed, and experience stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. Passive activities that require no physical or mental exertion may provide support and can help improve overall well-being. Sounds from crystal sound bowls and other instruments combined with guided meditations have been found to promote relaxation and to reduce stress and anxiety. Participants can sit in a chair or lie on a yoga mat, supported by pillows and blankets, to enhance comfort and rest. Eye masks can also be used to minimize light and promote peacefulness. The purpose of this study is to assess if a weekly Sound Bowl Meditation, offered over the course of 6 weeks and provided by a certified Sound Bowl practitioner, can help decrease caregiver stress and anxiety related to the role as a primary caregiver.

Conditions

Stress

Anxiety

Study ID

NCT07626320

Start date

Nov 1, 2026

Status verified date

May, 2026

Completion date

Dec 1, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jun 30, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adults age 18 years and older
2. Primary, unpaid caregiver of a family member (spouse, sibling, parent, child, etc.) or an unrelated adult (friend) who is chronically ill and/or disabled
3. Primary, unpaid caregiver has provided care to family member or an unrelated adult for a minimum of six months
4. Normal hearing capacity with or without corrective hearing aids
5. Availability and willingness to participate in the six week sound bowl meditation intervention
6. Access to a smartphone or personal electronic tablet with adequate WiFi access and a personal email
7. Willingness and ability to download the MyCap app to complete study surveys

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Professional and/or paid caregivers
2. Inability to read and/or understand English (consent, study instructions, and questionnaires in English)

Study Design

Enrollment

40 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Intervention Group

Intervention Group will receive a 6-week (1-60 minute session weekly) sound bowl meditation in a community, group setting.

Interventions

Sound Bowl Meditation

The study intervention is a sound bowl meditation, offered weekly (same day and same time of day) for six weeks; each session will be 60 minutes in length. The sound bowl meditation will include the use of a Reem drum, Tingsha bells (small cymbals used to induce relaxation, reduce stress, and restore energetic balance), and eight crystal sound bowls. Participants will be fully clothed and will be able to sit in a chair or lie on a yoga mat with yoga props used for comfort. The sound bowl meditation will be provided by certified Sound Bowl Practitioners from the OSU Wexner Medical Center who regularly provide these interventions in the community.

Primary outcome measure

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 [ Time Frame: At baseline and at the end of the 6-week intervention. ]
  • Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale [ Time Frame: At baseline and at end of the 6-week intervention. ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Beth Steinberg, PhD, RN

614-406-7067beth.steinberg@osumc.edu

Sienna Andres, BA

380-283-6479sienna.andres@osumc.edu

Locations

The Ohio State University Center for Integrative Health

Recruiting

Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43220

Contacts

Beth Steinberg, PhD, RN

614-406-7067beth.steinberg@osumc.edu

Principal Investigator:

Beth Steinberg, PhD, RN

More Information

Sponsor

Ohio State University

Last update posted

Nov 12, 2026

Last verified

May, 2026

Keywords

  • caregiver
  • family caregiver
  • caregiver stress
  • anxiety
  • caregiver anxiety

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-11-13. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Ohio State University on 2026-11-12. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.