A Trial of an Online Problem-solving Intervention for Aggression

Aggression Clinical Trial

Official title:

A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Online Problem-solving Intervention to Reduce Aggression Among Youth

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04130360
• Other study ID #: 030755
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 25, 2019
• Est. completion date: March 30, 2020

Study information

• Verified date: October 2019
• Source: University of Sheffield
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Aggressive behaviour among adolescents is a social problem that can be reduced by social problem-solving interventions. However, these interventions usually include more than one technique, and the specific techniques that are effective in reducing and preventing aggression remain to be identified. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to test whether the instruction and practice of problem-solving on their own are effective in changing aggressive behaviour among adolescents.

As the intervention in this trial is aimed at the general population, it will be delivered online. The rapid growth in the use of the Internet among young people provides an opportunity to deliver interventions universally in a cheap and efficient way.

Problem-solving skills are fundamental to effective behaviour change. Therefore, problem-solving skills will be measured to assess whether they mediate the effect of the intervention on aggressive behaviour.

Finally, young people with callous-unemotional traits are less likely to change their problematic behaviour such as aggression after an intervention. Therefore, Callous-Unemotional traits will be measured to assess if they act as a moderator of effectiveness.

It is expected that participants randomised to the intervention improve their problem-solving skills and consequentially, reduce their aggressive behaviours. In addition, participants with lower callous-unemotional traits are expected to have a greater change.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 908
• Est. completion date: March 30, 2020
• Est. primary completion date: March 30, 2020
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 21 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Living in the UK

• Fluent in English

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Aggression

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Problem-solving
The steps of problem-solving are explained to the participants. Then, they are presented two conflictive situations and they are asked to apply the problem-solving steps to find a solution. Once they finish, they are asked to apply the steps in a conflictive situation they have experience in the last month. In the end, they are reminded of the steps and encouraged to practice them in their daily conflicts.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United Kingdom	University of Sheffield	Sheffield	South Yorkshire

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Sheffield	University of Manchester

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United Kingdom, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Aggression (trait)	Aggression Questionnaire (AQ): Physical Aggression, Verbal Aggression, Hostility, Anger. Each item is responded from 1 (extrememly uncharacteristic of me) to 5 (extremely characteristic of me), with higher scores meaning higher aggression.	1 month
Primary	Aggression (frequency)	Physical and relational aggression questionnaire. Each item is responded from 1 (never) to 5 (5 or more times), with higher scores meaning higher aggression.	1 month
Secondary	Problem-solving skills	Problem Solving Skills (PSI-PSS). Each item is responded from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree), with higher scores meaning higher problem-solving skills.	1 month
Secondary	Problem-solving self-efficacy	Problem Solving Self-Efficacy (PSI-PSSE). Each item is responded from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree), with higher scores meaning higher problem-solving self-efficacy.	1 month