An Internet-Based Intervention With Peer Support for the Mental Health of Youths
NCT ID: NCT05979649
Last Updated: 2023-08-09
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.
UNKNOWN
NA
200 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2023-09-30
2024-02-29
Brief Summary
Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.
Related Clinical Trials
Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.
Effects of Parent-Adolescent Joint I-Interventions for Adolescents with Adverse Childhood Experiences
NCT06650696
Implementing Digital Peer Support Training for Adolescent Mental Health
NCT05199675
Mood Management Effects of Brief Unsupported Internet Interventions
NCT02748954
Web-based Self-help Intervention Promoting Mental Health in Adolescents
NCT04994496
Peer-based Recovery Program
NCT07262411
Detailed Description
Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.
The mental health of young people (15-24) is a significant global concern, affecting one in five individuals within this age group and representing the largest burden of illness. Moreover, the impact of mental health problems during adolescence can extend into adulthood, affecting physical and mental well-being and limiting opportunities for a fulfilling life.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health and psychosocial well-being are essential for youth's human potential and rights. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health problems among adolescents, leading to disruptions in critical mental health services in many countries. Studies have shown that the pandemic has resulted in increased depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders among young people. Additionally, the previously mentioned conditions faced by adolescents have worsened to the point of mental disorders and suicide attempts.
The impact of the pandemic on youths' mental health has drawn global attention and highlights the urgency of intervening in their mental well-being. Stressors among young people primarily come from academics, employment, relationships, appearance, finances, etc. The lack of effective coping strategies and emotional regulation further exacerbate physical health symptoms and negative consequences. Unfortunately, a significant number of young people experiencing mental health problems do not seek professional help, primarily due to denial, embarrassment, lack of time, and stigma. They often turn to informal resources such as family, friends, books, or counseling websites, with uncertain effectiveness. Long waiting lists for psychological services add to the dilemma. Therefore, it is crucial to help youths overcome these barriers when providing support services.
Currently, access to cost-effective and accessible mental health services remains challenging for young people. In addition to counseling and psychiatric services, peer support has emerged as a novel resource for young people seeking help. Peer support involves social and emotional support from individuals with similar experiences. Research suggests that peer support is an accessible, affordable, and easily implemented mental health resource. Involving peer supporters in mental health services can promote recovery and has positive effects on depressive symptoms, anxiety, psychological distress, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-management. However, there is a lack of research on the development and implementation of peer-support based interventions for adolescents with psychological problems. This study aims to address this gap.
Given the concerns surrounding psychological problems among young people, this study aims to design a pragmatic and comprehensive peer support-based intervention. The intervention will be based on the Youth Stressful Life Event Response Model, which explains how adolescents respond to stress and how factors like emotional intelligence, social support, and coping strategies impact their mental health. This online, single-blind, randomized controlled trial will include both an intervention group and a control group. The control group will receive motivational articles unrelated to the main monitoring indicators. Participants will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and during follow-up. Through the implementation of a peer support program, this study aims to investigate the specific effects of long-term intervention on changes in mental health status, psychological resilience, perceived social support, and emotional intelligence.
Conditions
See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.
Study Design
Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.
RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
DOUBLE
Study Groups
Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.
experimental group
1. Throughout the intervention period, we will deliver weekly customized feeds to youths at a consistent time, covering stressful events, coping strategies, social support, and emotional intelligence, totaling eight deliveries.
2. After peer interveners (peer mentors) receive counseling credentials, every fifth participant will be randomly paired with a peer intervener. Over the next eight weeks, they will engage in individualized conversations via online video conferences biweekly.The intervention will last eight weeks, with four conversations in total.
3. After each personalized conversation, the interveners will collaboratively develop behavioral corrective tasks for the following two weeks from the "To Do List," including at least one task from each category: social support, coping strategies, and emotional intelligence. During the next conversation, the interveners will inquire about the participants' completion status and personal experiences.
behavioral corrective tasks
After each personalized conversation, the interveners will, based on a clear understanding of the participants' completion status and personal experiences with the previous "behavioral corrective tasks," assist in formulating future "behavioral corrective tasks" for the next two weeks. These tasks will be selected from our designated "To Do List," requiring at least one task from each category: social support, coping strategies, and emotional intelligence.
Counselling on psychological knowledge
Counselling on psychological knowledge includes weekly personalized feeds, as well as the methods and techniques for coping with challenges provided by the interveners.during personalized conversations with the participants.
control group
Throughout the eight weeks of intervention, articles without professional psychological knowledge will be delivered to the control group participants once a week at a consistent time, totaling eight deliveries in total.
placebo-controlled study
"feel-good" articles without professional psychological knowledge will be sent to the control group participants weekly.
Peer intervener group
Peer interveners will participate in a one-day course conducted by several instructors with backgrounds in psychology and medicine. They will be required to pass a "standardized patient test" after the course to obtain the qualification for intervention.
Peer Interventionist Training
The training is a one-day course, encompassing a broad range of topics, including but not limited to counseling techniques and specialized medical psychology knowledge.
Interventions
Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.
behavioral corrective tasks
After each personalized conversation, the interveners will, based on a clear understanding of the participants' completion status and personal experiences with the previous "behavioral corrective tasks," assist in formulating future "behavioral corrective tasks" for the next two weeks. These tasks will be selected from our designated "To Do List," requiring at least one task from each category: social support, coping strategies, and emotional intelligence.
Counselling on psychological knowledge
Counselling on psychological knowledge includes weekly personalized feeds, as well as the methods and techniques for coping with challenges provided by the interveners.during personalized conversations with the participants.
placebo-controlled study
"feel-good" articles without professional psychological knowledge will be sent to the control group participants weekly.
Peer Interventionist Training
The training is a one-day course, encompassing a broad range of topics, including but not limited to counseling techniques and specialized medical psychology knowledge.
Eligibility Criteria
Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.
Inclusion Criteria
* Individuals who have experienced a stressful life event of moderate or greater magnitude within the past six months (with a moderate impact on one or more of the Stressful Events Scale screenings).
* Individuals who can provide informed consent and willingly cooperate with this study
* Aged 18-25
* Individuals with a Bachelor's degree in progress or higher, and a professional background in sociology, psychology, education, or medicine.
* Individuals who can provide informed consent and willingly cooperate with this study.
Exclusion Criteria
* Individuals diagnosed with psychological or mental disorders.
Peer intervener group：
* Individuals currently undergoing clinical psychotherapy or participating in other interventional studies.
* Individuals diagnosed with psychological or mental disorders.
14 Years
25 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.
Wei XIA, PhD
OTHER
Responsible Party
Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.
Wei XIA, PhD
Associate Professor
Principal Investigators
Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.
Wei Xia, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Sun Yat-sen University
Locations
Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.
XIAW
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Countries
Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.
Central Contacts
Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.
Facility Contacts
Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.
Other Identifiers
Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.
L2023SYSU-HL-010
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
More Related Trials
Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.