Contemplative Coping during COVID-19

Study Overview

Contemplative Coping during COVID, or the CCC Project, is an ongoing observational study investigating the lived experience of ~350 meditation practitioners in the US during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our primary goals are to understand the types of pandemic-related stressors these individuals are facing, whether they draw on contemplative practices to cope with these stressors, and if contemplative practice relates to better mental health and biological outcomes (as indexed by immune cell telomere length).

Cumulative and chronic stress exposure take a toll on mental and physical health. Telomere length is one biological marker that is both affected by chronic psychological stress and predictive of disease states. Telomeres are repetitive sequences of DNA that protect our genetic material by flanking the ends of our chromosomes. Telomeres shorten incrementally with age, but the rate at which they shorten varies with respect to a number of lifestyle factors. In this study we are measuring telomere shortening in relation to the number, severity, and chronicity of stressors people experience over the year-long study period. 

We are also interested in the supportive factors that have helped people navigate and possibly even thrive during this period. Our primary focus is in understanding the different ways that people bring contemplative and meditative practices to bear in their daily lives, particularly during periods of challenge and uncertainty. In addition to meditation practice, we are also measuring other factors, including social support, material resources, and health-promoting behaviors.

To learn more about this study, visit our project webpage here: https://www.contemplative-coping-covid-19.org/.

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Presentations

• Conklin, Q.A., Lin, J. (2023, March). Telomere methodological factors: Lessons from the Contemplative Coping during COVID study. Telomere Research Network Annual Meeting. Durham, NC.

• Conklin, Q.A., Pokorny, J.J, VandenBos, S.V., King, B.G., Dewan, P., Limberis, A., Patterson, C., Skwara, A., Davis, A., Fernandez, J., Gill, H. Majied, K., Saron, C.D. (2023, Feb). Visualizing data from the Contemplative Coping during COVID-19 project. Inaugural meeting of the International Society for Contemplative Studies. San Diego, CA. 

• Conklin, Q.A., Majied, K., Saron, C.D. (2022, June). Right view: Generating more accurate knowledge through inclusive research. Mind and Life Summer Research Institute. Virtual Meeting.

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• VandenBos, S.V., Conklin, Q.A., Pokorny, J.J, Skwara A.C., King, B.G., Diaw, S.M., Saron, C.D. (2022, June). Experiences of Online Meditation Offerings: Perspectives from Contemplative Practitioners and Teachers. Mind and Life Summer Research Institute. Virtual Meeting.

 

• Dewan, P., Conklin, Q.A., Pokorny, J.J, VandenBos, S.V., King, B.G., Saron, C.D. (2022, May). Meditation Practice is Associated with Greater Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic. UC Davis Psychology Conference. Davis, CA.

Research Team

Principal Investigators:
Clifford Saron, PhD
Quinn Conklin, PhD

Study Coordinator:
Savannah VandenBos, BS

Research Assistants:
Prewana Dewan
Serigne Diaw
Jacob Fernandez
Matthew Goodman

Harleen Gill
Arielle Limberis
​Cavan Patterson

DEI Consultant:
Kamilah Majied, PhD

Clinical Consultant:
Amber Davis, PhD​

Co-Investigators:
Jue Lin, PhD
Brandon King, PhD
Alex Norman, PhD
Jennifer Pokorny, PhD
Alea Skwara, PhD

Funding

Yoga Science Foundation
Fetzer Institute
Mind and Life Institute
Anonymous donors