Emotions, Help-Seeking Behavior, Positive Affect, Suicide, Trusted Adults
Conditions
Brief summary
The goal of this research project is to conduct a pilot RCT of Text4Strength, an interactive automated text messaging extension of Sources of Strength (SoS), a universal school-based suicide prevention program that prepares diverse 'key opinion leaders' to conduct public health messaging and activities with peers to increase school-wide positive coping norms, communication with trusted adults, and seeking help for suicidal peers (Wyman et al., 2010). The investigators previously developed and field tested Text4Strength messages (RSRB#00047481 and 53924 closed) to demonstrate feasibility, safety, student engagement, and student-perceived relevance for a universal texting extension. The investigators will now conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial in one large school in Western New York that has implemented Sources of Strength for the past two years. The school will continue with Sources of Strength in the 2016-17 school, and add this school-wide texting component as part of this research study. Consistent with Leon's guidelines on pilot studies, the primary focus will be to identify areas of promise, success in reaching proximate targets, and the need for additional modifications (Leon, Davis, & Kraemer, 2011). Findings from this study will inform further refinement of the text messaging program and provide preliminary data for a larger efficacy trial.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALIntervention
The intervention group will receive 2-5 interactive text message sequences per week. These messages will invite students to reply using keywords and short free text replies. Messages come from a library of strength-based peer quotations (reviewed for safety), psychoeducational interactions, and games designed to promote emotional skills and use of resources.
BEHAVIORALControl
The control group will receive 1-2 (non-interactive) text messages per week containing general SoS concepts (e.g., Remember: more strengths are better when times get tough).
Sponsors
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
University of Rochester
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Masking description
Participants do not know which group they were randomized into.
Intervention model description
Intervention group (receives interactive text messages) and control group (receives informative text messages)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
13 Years to 19 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* 9th-12th grade students in study school * must have own cell phone
Exclusion criteria
* no cell phone * not sufficiently English-speaking to complete surveys
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Emotion self-regulation skills | change from baseline to three-month follow-up | Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scales (DERS) (Gratz & Roemer, 2004) |
| Resources for Coping | change from baseline to three-month follow-up | uptake of Sources of Strength concepts (Wyman et al., 2010) |
| Help-Seeking norms | change from baseline to three-month follow-up | Help-seeking from adults at school (Schmeelk-Cone, et al, 2012) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Depression | baseline, immediate follow-up, three-month follow-up | Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ: Angold, et al., 1996; Costello & Angold, 1988) |
| Suicidal Ideation | baseline, immediate follow-up, three-month follow-up | one question from the MFQ about suicidal ideation in the past two weeks |
Outcome results
None listed