BullyDown, a Text Messaging-based Bullying Prevention Program for Middle School-aged Youth

Bullying Clinical Trial

Official title:

Developing a Bullying Prevention Program That Transcends Physical Boundaries

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT06017050
• Other study ID #: R21HD104369
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: August 15, 2023
• Est. completion date: December 31, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: February 2024
• Source: Center for Innovative Public Health Research
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Given the limited impact of existing school-based interventions and the time associated with implementing them during school time, more efficient and effective intervention methods are needed. Programs that can be delivered to middle school youth irrespective of whether they are attending school physically or virtually may be especially relevant as school boundaries become more fluid. BullyDown addresses this critical need by providing a scalable program that could be quickly and cost-effectively disseminated nationally.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 150
• Est. completion date: December 31, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: December 31, 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: N/A and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• 7th or 8th grade

• English speaking

• Own their own cell phone

• Home internet

• Provide informed assent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-English speakers

• Unable to read the screener

• Know someone else in the RCT

• Know they are not on an unlimited text messaging plan

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Bullying

Intervention

Behavioral:
• BullyDown
BullyDown is an 8 week, text messaging-based prevention program aimed to prevent bullying behaviors among middle school-aged youth. Message content is based upon the social-emotional learning model.
• Attention-matched control
The attention-matched control will receive the messages for the same number of days as the intervention. Content will talk about 'healthy lifestyle' topics, such as fitness and healthy social media use.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Chapel Hill	North Carolina
United States	Center for Innovative Public Health Research	San Clemente	California

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Center for Innovative Public Health Research	University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Other	Relatively lower rates of bullying perpetration in the intervention versus control group	Bullying other youth the same age	In the past 30 days at 3-months post-randomzied controlled trial (RCT) end
Other	Relatively lower rates of aggressive behavior in the intervention versus control group	Youth who report aggressive acts that do not meet the definition of bullying	In the past 30 days at 3-months post-RCT end
Other	Relatively higher rates of bystanding behavior in the intervention versus control group	Intervening when a youth sees others being bullied as measured by the University of Illinois Willingness to Intervene scale	In the past 30 days at 3-months post-RCT end
Primary	Feasibility of the intervention	Recruitment and enrollment rates	Through study completion, anticipated to be 1 year
Primary	Acceptability of the intervention	Positive program appraisal	Intervention end, 8 weeks after program enrollment