AggressionPhase 3NCT00510094
Effectiveness of Treatment for Relational Aggression in Urban African American Girls
A Phase 3 study testing Friend to Friend program in people with Aggression, run by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based social cognitive group treatment in reducing aggression (bullying) among relationally aggressive urban African American girls. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Aggression
- What is being tested?
- Friend to Friend program
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 144 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Oct 2007to May 2015
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Urban school located in Southwest Philadelphia
- Student body is more than 80% African American
- Large school with at least three classrooms per grade
- Not currently involved with systematic anti-aggression social skills program
- In the 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade
- Meets diagnostic criteria for relational aggression
Who cannot join
- Enrolled in special education and not integrated into a regular education classroom
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
About this study
Official title: Determining the Efficacy of a Relational Aggression Intervention for Urban African American Girls
This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based social cognitive group treatment in reducing aggression (bullying) among relationally aggressive urban African American girls.
Read the detailed description
Relational aggression, also known as "female bullying," is a type of psychological aggression in which covert tactics are used to harm other people and their relationships. These tactics include humiliation, intimidation, coercing, shaming, malicious teasing, shunning, and using other forms of emotional abuse in an attempt to harm others. Although aggressive behavior is typically common among younger children, most children become less aggressive as they mature and develop better interpersonal skills. However, consistent aggressive behavior can lead to further problems and increased violence in the aggressor. In this study, a social cognitive anger management group intervention called Friend to Friend (F2F) will be evaluated as a way to develop more productive social and emotional functioning among relationally aggressive urban African American girls.
Participants will be randomly assigned to either the F2F program or a psycho-educational attention control (PAC) group. All participants will attend 40-minute treatment sessions twice a week for a total of 10 weeks. The sessions will occur during the girls' lunch or recess period. Participants assigned to the F2F program will learn how to identify signs of physiological arousal, react to a potential conflict while generating alternatives to the solution, and apply previously discussed social cognitive strategies to different situations. Culturally specific cartoons, videotape illustrations, and role playing will be used to portray these improved strategies and behaviors. Participants assigned to the PAC group will learn different organization and homework strategies as well as how to improve their study skills in an attempt to improve their overall academic performance. Outcomes will be assessed through observation, school reports, and questionnaires for all participants at baseline, immediately after treatment, and 9 months after treatment.
- Conditions
- Aggression
- Being tested
- Friend to Friend program, Psychoeducational attention control intervention
- Keywords
- Social Skills, Anger Management, Relational Aggression
- Medical subject headings
- Aggression, Social Skills
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Friend to Friend programBehavioural
Also called Relational aggression intervention
Friend to Friend arm is a social information processing group treatment to help aggressive girls learn better social problem solving and decision making choices. Participants will learn how to identify signs of physiological arousal, evaluate others' intentions, react to a potential conflict situation, and generate and evaluate alternatives. Treatment sessions are twice per week (30 to 40 minutes per session) for ten weeks.
Psychoeducational attention control interventionBehavioural
Also called Homework and study skills intervention
Psychoeducational attention control group also meets two times per week for 10 weeks to control for nonspecific factors of treatment. Participants learn homework, study skills, and organizational skills.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Experimental | Participants will receive the Friend to Friend program Receives: Behavioral: Friend to Friend program |
| 2 | Active comparator | Participants will receive the psychoeducational attention control intervention Receives: Behavioral: Psychoeducational attention control intervention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Peer nominations
Measured: Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment
Playground observations
Measured: Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment
Children's Social Behavior Questionnaire
Measured: Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Social Cognitive Assessment Profile
Measured: Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Cartoon Based Hostile Attribution Bias Measure
Measured: Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Knowledge of Anger Problem Solving (KAPS)
Measured: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and at 9 month follow-up
Secondary outcomes (9)
Discipline referrals and suspensions
Measured: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Academic Performance Rating Scale
Measured: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Homework Performance Questionnaire
Measured: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Asher-Wheeler Loneliness Questionnaire
Measured: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Iowa-Conner Aggression subscale
Measured: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Student-Teacher Relationship Scale
Measured: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Peer Ratings of Aggression and Prosocial Behavior
Measured: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment
Harter, Self-Perception Profile for Children
Measured: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and at 9 month follow-up
Peer Sympathy Scale
Measured: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and at 9 month follow-up
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Aug 2007 (estimated)
- Study startOct 2007
- Primary completionMay 2014
- Study completionMay 2015
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (11)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for AggressionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 144 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Stephen S. Leff, PhD, Principal investigator, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00510094
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2006-10-5013
- Other IDs
- R01MH075787, DSIR 84-CTS
- Status last verified
- Jun 2015
- First submitted
- 30 Jul 2007
- Last updated
- 4 Jun 2015
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Leff SS, Crick NR, Angelucci J, Haye K, Jawad AF, Grossman M, Power TJ. Social cognition in context: validating a cartoon-based attributional measure for urban girls. Child Dev. 2006 Sep-Oct;77(5):1351-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2006.00939.x.
PubMed 16999803Leff, S. S., Angelucci, J., Goldstein, A. B., Cardaciotto, L., Paskewich, B., & Grossman, M. (2007). Using a participatory action research model to create a school-based intervention program for relationally aggressive girls: The Friend to Friend Program. In J. Zins, M. Elias, & C. Maher (Eds.), Bullying, Victimization, and Peer Harassment: Handbook of Prevention and Intervention in Peer Harassment, Victimization, and Bullying (199-218). New York. Haworth Press.
Leff SS, Gullan RL, Paskewich BS, Abdul-Kabir S, Jawad AF, Grossman M, Munro MA, Power TJ. An initial evaluation of a culturally adapted social problem-solving and relational aggression prevention program for urban African-American relationally aggressive girls. J Prev Interv Community. 2009;37(4):260-74. doi: 10.1080/10852350903196274.
PubMed 19830622Blom-Hoffman J, Leff SS, Franko DL, Weinstein E, Beakley K, Power TJ. Consent Procedures and Participation Rates in School-Based Intervention and Prevention Research: Using a Multi-Component, Partnership-Based Approach to Recruit Participants. School Ment Health. 2009 Mar 1;1(1):3-15. doi: 10.1007/s12310-008-9000-7.
PubMed 19834586Gullan RL, Feinberg BE, Freedman MA, Jawad A, Leff SS. Using Participatory Action Research to Design an Intervention Integrity System in the Urban Schools. School Ment Health. 2009 Sep 1;1(3):118-130. doi: 10.1007/s12310-009-9006-9.
PubMed 20428475Leff SS, Waasdorp TE. Effect of aggression and bullying on children and adolescents: implications for prevention and intervention. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013 Mar;15(3):343. doi: 10.1007/s11920-012-0343-2.
PubMed 23389773Waasdorp TE, Baker CN, Paskewich BS, Leff SS. The association between forms of aggression, leadership, and social status among urban youth. J Youth Adolesc. 2013 Feb;42(2):263-74. doi: 10.1007/s10964-012-9837-9. Epub 2012 Oct 20.
PubMed 23086015Macevoy JP, Leff SS. Children's sympathy for peers who are the targets of peer aggression. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2012 Oct;40(7):1137-48. doi: 10.1007/s10802-012-9636-5.
PubMed 22556114Leff SS, Lefler EK, Khera GS, Paskewich B, Jawad AF. Preliminary examination of a cartoon-based hostile attributional bias measure for urban African American boys. Am J Community Psychol. 2012 Jun;49(3-4):332-46. doi: 10.1007/s10464-011-9461-y.
PubMed 21800228Leff SS, Waasdorp TE, Paskewich B, Gullan RL, Jawad AF, Macevoy JP, Feinberg BE, Power TJ. The Preventing Relational Aggression in Schools Everyday Program: A Preliminary Evaluation of Acceptability and Impact. School Psych Rev. 2010 Dec;39(4):569-587.
PubMed 21686034Leff SS, Cassano M, MacEvoy JP, Costigan T. Initial validation of a knowledge-based measure of social information processing and anger management. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2010 Oct;38(7):1007-20. doi: 10.1007/s10802-010-9419-9.
PubMed 20449645
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Jun 2015. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Determining the Efficacy of a Relational Aggression Intervention for Urban African American Girls
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00510094
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2006-10-5013
- Conditions
- Aggression
- Keywords
- Social Skills, Anger Management, Relational Aggression
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 144 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Study start
- Oct 2007
- Primary completion
- May 2014 (actual)
- Study completion
- May 2015 (actual)
- First posted
- 1 Aug 2007 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based social cognitive group treatment in reducing aggression (bullying) among relationally aggressive urban African American girls.
Detailed description
Relational aggression, also known as "female bullying," is a type of psychological aggression in which covert tactics are used to harm other people and their relationships. These tactics include humiliation, intimidation, coercing, shaming, malicious teasing, shunning, and using other forms of emotional abuse in an attempt to harm others. Although aggressive behavior is typically common among younger children, most children become less aggressive as they mature and develop better interpersonal skills. However, consistent aggressive behavior can lead to further problems and increased violence in the aggressor. In this study, a social cognitive anger management group intervention called Friend to Friend (F2F) will be evaluated as a way to develop more productive social and emotional functioning among relationally aggressive urban African American girls.
Participants will be randomly assigned to either the F2F program or a psycho-educational attention control (PAC) group. All participants will attend 40-minute treatment sessions twice a week for a total of 10 weeks. The sessions will occur during the girls' lunch or recess period. Participants assigned to the F2F program will learn how to identify signs of physiological arousal, react to a potential conflict while generating alternatives to the solution, and apply previously discussed social cognitive strategies to different situations. Culturally specific cartoons, videotape illustrations, and role playing will be used to portray these improved strategies and behaviors. Participants assigned to the PAC group will learn different organization and homework strategies as well as how to improve their study skills in an attempt to improve their overall academic performance. Outcomes will be assessed through observation, school reports, and questionnaires for all participants at baseline, immediately after treatment, and 9 months after treatment.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Experimental | Behavioral: Friend to Friend programParticipants will receive the Friend to Friend program |
| 2 | Active comparator | Behavioral: Psychoeducational attention control interventionParticipants will receive the psychoeducational attention control intervention |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Urban school located in Southwest Philadelphia
- Student body is more than 80% African American
- Large school with at least three classrooms per grade
- Not currently involved with systematic anti-aggression social skills program
- In the 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Enrolled in special education and not integrated into a regular education classroom
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Friend to Friend programAlso: Relational aggression interventionFriend to Friend arm is a social information processing group treatment to help aggressive girls learn better social problem solving and decision making choices. Participants will learn how to identify signs of physiological arousal, evaluate others' intentions, react to a potential conflict situation, and generate and evaluate alternatives. Treatment sessions are twice per week (30 to 40 minutes per session) for ten weeks. | Behavioural | 1 |
| Psychoeducational attention control interventionAlso: Homework and study skills interventionPsychoeducational attention control group also meets two times per week for 10 weeks to control for nonspecific factors of treatment. Participants learn homework, study skills, and organizational skills. | Behavioural | 2 |
Primary outcome
Peer nominations
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment
Playground observations
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment
Children's Social Behavior Questionnaire
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Social Cognitive Assessment Profile
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Cartoon Based Hostile Attribution Bias Measure
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Knowledge of Anger Problem Solving (KAPS)
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and at 9 month follow-up
9 secondary outcomes
Discipline referrals and suspensions
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Academic Performance Rating Scale
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Homework Performance Questionnaire
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Asher-Wheeler Loneliness Questionnaire
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Iowa-Conner Aggression subscale
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Student-Teacher Relationship Scale
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Peer Ratings of Aggression and Prosocial Behavior
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment
Harter, Self-Perception Profile for Children
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and at 9 month follow-up
Peer Sympathy Scale
Time frame: Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and at 9 month follow-up
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Jun 2015.
- Background: PubMed 16999803Leff SS, Crick NR, Angelucci J, Haye K, Jawad AF, Grossman M, Power TJ. Social cognition in context: validating a cartoon-based attributional measure for urban girls. Child Dev. 2006 Sep-Oct;77(5):1351-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2006.00939.x.
- BackgroundLeff, S. S., Angelucci, J., Goldstein, A. B., Cardaciotto, L., Paskewich, B., & Grossman, M. (2007). Using a participatory action research model to create a school-based intervention program for relationally aggressive girls: The Friend to Friend Program. In J. Zins, M. Elias, & C. Maher (Eds.), Bullying, Victimization, and Peer Harassment: Handbook of Prevention and Intervention in Peer Harassment, Victimization, and Bullying (199-218). New York. Haworth Press.
- Background: PubMed 19830622Leff SS, Gullan RL, Paskewich BS, Abdul-Kabir S, Jawad AF, Grossman M, Munro MA, Power TJ. An initial evaluation of a culturally adapted social problem-solving and relational aggression prevention program for urban African-American relationally aggressive girls. J Prev Interv Community. 2009;37(4):260-74. doi: 10.1080/10852350903196274.
- Background: PubMed 19834586Blom-Hoffman J, Leff SS, Franko DL, Weinstein E, Beakley K, Power TJ. Consent Procedures and Participation Rates in School-Based Intervention and Prevention Research: Using a Multi-Component, Partnership-Based Approach to Recruit Participants. School Ment Health. 2009 Mar 1;1(1):3-15. doi: 10.1007/s12310-008-9000-7.
- Background: PubMed 20428475Gullan RL, Feinberg BE, Freedman MA, Jawad A, Leff SS. Using Participatory Action Research to Design an Intervention Integrity System in the Urban Schools. School Ment Health. 2009 Sep 1;1(3):118-130. doi: 10.1007/s12310-009-9006-9.
- Background: PubMed 23389773Leff SS, Waasdorp TE. Effect of aggression and bullying on children and adolescents: implications for prevention and intervention. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013 Mar;15(3):343. doi: 10.1007/s11920-012-0343-2.
- Background: PubMed 23086015Waasdorp TE, Baker CN, Paskewich BS, Leff SS. The association between forms of aggression, leadership, and social status among urban youth. J Youth Adolesc. 2013 Feb;42(2):263-74. doi: 10.1007/s10964-012-9837-9. Epub 2012 Oct 20.
- Background: PubMed 22556114Macevoy JP, Leff SS. Children's sympathy for peers who are the targets of peer aggression. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2012 Oct;40(7):1137-48. doi: 10.1007/s10802-012-9636-5.
- Background: PubMed 21800228Leff SS, Lefler EK, Khera GS, Paskewich B, Jawad AF. Preliminary examination of a cartoon-based hostile attributional bias measure for urban African American boys. Am J Community Psychol. 2012 Jun;49(3-4):332-46. doi: 10.1007/s10464-011-9461-y.
- Background: PubMed 21686034Leff SS, Waasdorp TE, Paskewich B, Gullan RL, Jawad AF, Macevoy JP, Feinberg BE, Power TJ. The Preventing Relational Aggression in Schools Everyday Program: A Preliminary Evaluation of Acceptability and Impact. School Psych Rev. 2010 Dec;39(4):569-587.
- Background: PubMed 20449645Leff SS, Cassano M, MacEvoy JP, Costigan T. Initial validation of a knowledge-based measure of social information processing and anger management. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2010 Oct;38(7):1007-20. doi: 10.1007/s10802-010-9419-9.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Stephen S. Leff, PhD principal investigator
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 3 study testing Friend to Friend program in people with Aggression, run by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Jun 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Peer nominations (time frame: Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00510094, which also lists 11 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Jun 2015.