Actively Recruiting
Confirmatory Efficacy of the Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills Program for Low-income and Minoritized Young Adolescents
Led by Penn State University · Updated on 2025-04-16
360
Participants Needed
5
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of the Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills (BaSICS) program for low-income and minoritized youth aged 11 to 14 who are seeking mental health treatment and currently waitlisted for services. The study aims to confirm BaSICS's benefits by replicating earlier results, track changes in coping skills and symptom improvement during the program, and study biological stress responses related to anxiety, depression, and suicide risk. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: the BaSICS intervention group or a control group without intervention. The intervention involves 16 sessions held twice weekly, focusing on teaching coping strategies, healthy identity development, and collective social action to help manage chronic stress. Both groups complete assessments before and after the intervention, as well as follow-ups at 6 and 12 months. Participants will undergo evaluations of anxiety, depression, and suicide risk markers at multiple points, including before and after the intervention and during follow-ups at 6 and 12 months. Researchers will also measure coping skills acquisition, physiological stress responses via HPA reactivity profiles, collaborative coping, and sociocultural identity development. The total participation spans over a year with ongoing assessments to monitor changes and outcomes.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Confirmatory Efficacy of the Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills Program
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Children aged 11 to 14 years at intake
- Family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level
- Child speaks English
- Parent speaks English or Spanish
You will not qualify if you...
- Intellectual disability
- Autism spectrum disorder
- High suicidal risk (score of 17 or more on MINI-Kid)
- Severe depression (score of 19 or more on PHQ)
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 8 weeks
Participants take part in the Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills (BaSICS) program, attending sessions to learn coping skills, healthy identity development, and collective social action. Assessments are done before and after the intervention to measure progress.
16 sessions, twice weekly
Duration - Up to 12 months post-intervention
Participants complete assessments at 6 months and 12 months after the intervention to monitor long-term outcomes related to anxiety, depression, suicide risk markers, coping skills, and identity development.
2 visits (at 6 and 12 months post-intervention)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 5 locations
1
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States, 17110
Not Yet Recruiting
2
Penn State Health Medical Group - Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States, 17033
Actively Recruiting
3
Penns Valley Area School District
Spring Mills, Pennsylvania, United States, 16875
Not Yet Recruiting
4
Dr. Edwin L. Herr Clinic
State College, Pennsylvania, United States, 16802
Actively Recruiting
5
Penn State Psychological Clinic
State College, Pennsylvania, United States, 16802
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Martha E Wadsworth, PhD
D
Dara Babinksi, PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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