Effectiveness of Treatment for Relational Aggression in Urban African American Girls
- Conditions
- Aggression
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Psychoeducational attention control interventionBehavioral: Friend to Friend program
- Registration Number
- NCT00510094
- Lead Sponsor
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Brief 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.
- 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.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- Female
- Target Recruitment
- 144
Not provided
Not provided
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description 2 Psychoeducational attention control intervention Participants will receive the psychoeducational attention control intervention 1 Friend to Friend program Participants will receive the Friend to Friend program
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Playground observations Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment Peer nominations Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment Social Cognitive Assessment Profile Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up Cartoon Based Hostile Attribution Bias Measure Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up Children's Social Behavior Questionnaire Measured pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up Knowledge of Anger Problem Solving (KAPS) Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and at 9 month follow-up
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Academic Performance Rating Scale Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up Homework Performance Questionnaire Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up Iowa-Conner Aggression subscale Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up Student-Teacher Relationship Scale Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up Harter, Self-Perception Profile for Children Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and at 9 month follow-up Peer Ratings of Aggression and Prosocial Behavior Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment Discipline referrals and suspensions Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up Peer Sympathy Scale Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and at 9 month follow-up Asher-Wheeler Loneliness Questionnaire Measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and at 9-month follow-up
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
🇺🇸Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States