Pilot Study on Psychological Effects of a 3-Day Darkness Retreat Comparing Low- and High-Frequency Monitoring in Adults with Anxiety and Worry

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the psychological effects and safety of a voluntary darkness retreat in a pilot study involving psychologically healthy students aged 30 to 50 with higher levels of trait anxiety and worry. The study aims to test the research protocols feasibility and safety while exploring changes in well-being, worry, rumination, mindfulness, and meaning in life. It also examines how these effects may be influenced by individual readiness for change and monitoring frequency during the retreat. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups for a three-day, three-night darkness retreat in complete seclusion without light or electronic devices. One group will receive one structured psychological consultation per day, and the other will have three consultations daily, including full interviews and shorter check-ins. All consultations occur through a wall separating the participants cabin and monitoring room. Participants will wear WHOOP wristbands to monitor physiological activity, circadian rhythms, and heart rate variability for both research and safety purposes. During the study, assessments will be done at three time points before the retreat, immediately after, and six months later, using online self-administered questionnaires in Polish. Researchers will measure anxiety, worry, rumination, mindfulness, meaning in life, and other psychological outcomes. The study includes safety monitoring via consultations and physiological data. Participants will not be informed about the comparison of monitoring frequencies until after study completion, when debriefing occurs. Total involvement covers recruitment through six months post-retreat follow-up.

Effects of Darkness Retreat: a Pilot Study