Beneficial or Fostering Future Struggles (B.F.F.s)? Characterizing the Role of Friends in the Development of 13- to 17-Year-Old Adolescents

Part of paid clinical trials in Columbia, South Carolina.

Sponsor
University of South Carolina
Study ID
NCT05893459
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Child Maltreatment
  • Electrocardiography
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Psychopathology
  • Victimisation

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
13 Years - 17 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Debrief — BEHAVIORAL
    Post-Stressor Discussion with a Friend

Study Details

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate how the friendship experiences of maltreated (i.e., abused and/or neglected) and non-maltreated adolescents differentially influence their risk for adverse outcomes. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. How do the friendships of maltreated adolescents differ from those of non-maltreated adolescents? 2. Which friendship experiences influence the associations between maltreatment and ability to regulate stress, as well as future mental health difficulties and revictimization? Participants will: * Attend the initial study visit on the campus of the University of South Carolina with their primary caregiver and a best friend during which they will: * Complete study questionnaires * Be connected to a device that records their physical ability to manage stress * Complete a task during which they will be audio and video recorded and complete a brief assessment rating how they are feeling at different times during task completion * Depending on which research group they are placed in, be assigned to discuss their experience doing this task with their friend (intervention group) or sit quietly in a room for 5 minutes (comparison group) * The follow-up study visit will involve completion of study questionnaires online or via mail 6 months later Additionally, the participant's caregiver and friend will complete study questionnaires. Researchers will compare the intervention group (debriefs with a friend) and comparison group (sits quietly for 5 minutes) to see if the presence of and discussion with the friend influences their physical ability to regulate stress and future outcomes.

Key Dates

Start date
Dec 2, 2023
Status verified
Jul 2024
Primary completion
Mar 1, 2025
Completion
Mar 1, 2025

Study Design

Enrollment
120 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Experimental: Debrief
    Following exposure to a laboratory stressor, participants in this arm will debrief their experience with a friend for 5 minutes while their psychophysiological reactivity is recorded using an electrocardiogram (ECG). Their interaction will be audio and video recorded for later observational coding of their friend's validating and invalidating behaviors during the conversation.
  • No Intervention: No Debrief
    Following exposure to a laboratory stressor, participants in this arm will sit by themselves while their psychophysiological reactivity is recorded using an electrocardiogram (ECG).

Primary Outcome Measure

Respiratory sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) activity [ Time Frame: Baseline ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
University of South CarolinaColumbiaSouth Carolina29201
Michelle P Brown, PhD
[email protected]
Michelle P Brown, PhD (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

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By research site
University of South Carolina· Columbia, SC

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