Culturally Smart Relationships Study
- Conditions
- Racism
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Culturally Smart Relationships
- Registration Number
- NCT05391711
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- Brief Summary
The aim of this study is to examine whether and how the provision of a cultural humility and social justice training and support program to volunteer mentors can change their interactions with youth, improve the effectiveness of programs and foster positive outcomes for low-income youth of color. Mentor-youth dyads (N=240) will be randomly assigned either to an intervention that includes cultural humility and social justice training and enhanced support or to a control group. Survey and interview data will be collected from a variety of sources, including mentors, youth, parents and case managers. Case records about mentor-youth dyads will also be collected.
- Detailed Description
The aim of this study is to examine whether and how the provision of a cultural humility and social justice training and support program to volunteer mentors can change their interactions with youth, improve the effectiveness of programs and foster positive outcomes for low-income youth of color. The study's specific aims are to investigate:
1. The impact of a cultural humility and social justice training and supports for BBBS mentors of youth of color on:
1. mentor's cultural humility and social justice knowledge, attitudes and approach to their mentoring relationships,
2. the quality of the mentor-youth relationships, and
3. youth's developmental outcomes
2. The processes through which the intervention achieves the above effects.
The study is being conducted in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) and participants will be recruited from 7 BBBSA affiliates located in different regions of the U.S. Participants will include 240 mentor-youth dyads and their case managers and youth's parents. Youth will be low-income, youth of color between the ages of 9 and 17 years. Mentor-youth dyads will be randomly assigned either to an intervention that includes cultural humility and social justice trainings and enhanced support or to a control group (business as usual). Mentors will complete survey measures at baseline, 4 months and 12 months. Youth and case managers will complete survey measures at baseline and 12 months, while parents complete a baseline survey. Program case records will be examined as well. A subset of mentor-youth dyads (n=24) and their case managers and parents will participate in a qualitative longitudinal study. The qualitative methods will include two individual interviews of youth and mentors, a virtual dyadic interview of the mentoring dyad, interviews with parents and case managers as well as recorded supervisory contacts with mentors.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 800
- youth is between 9 and 17 years of age
- youth is eligible for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Community-Based Mentoring (CBM) program as determined by initial assessment of program staff
- youth is a member of a racial/ethnic minority group, such as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Native Alaskan/Native Hawaiian, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern/North African or Arab American
- Parents of the above youth who are able to complete study measures in English or Spanish
- Mentors are eligible for the study if they are applying and accepted to the CBM program and are eventually matched with a youth who meet the study criteria above or currently in an existing match with a youth who meet eligibility criteria.
- anyone who doesn't meet the above inclusion criteria
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Culturally Smart Relationships Culturally Smart Relationships The mentors assigned to this group will receive additional trainings and support related to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI).
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Self-efficacy beliefs for engaging in conversations about racial injustice 12 months Mentor report - 4-item scale created for this study (Sánchez et al., 2021) - mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores reflect higher self-efficacy
Colorblind racial attitudes 4 months Mentor report - Unawareness of Racial Privilege subscale of the Color-Blind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS; Neville et al., 2000) - 7 items - Mean scores range from 1 to 6; 6 items are reverse scored; higher scores reflect more unawareness of racial privilege
Mentor support for coping with discrimination 12 months Youth-reported 8-item scale created for this study (Sanchez, Herrera, DuBois, \& Anderson, 2021); 3 reversed scored items; mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores indicate more support from mentors on youth's coping with discrimination.
Activities and discussions on race and social justice issues - Mentor 12 months Mentor reported - 11-item scale created for this study (Sanchez, Herrera, DuBois, \& Anderson, 2021). Mean scores range from 0 to 3; Higher scores indicate more frequent engagement in activities and discussions about race and social justice.
Activities and discussions on race and social justice issues - Youth 12 months Youth reported - 11-item scale created for this study (Sanchez, Herrera, DuBois, \& Anderson, 2021). Mean scores range from 0 to 3; higher scores indicate more frequent engagement in activities and discussions about race and social justice.
Cultural clashes 12 months Mentor Reported Challenges Scale - 3 items (Herrera et al., 2014); mean scores range between 1 and 4; higher scores reflect more cultural clashes in the relationship.
Mattering 12 months Youth reported measure; Sense of Mattering Scale (Rosenberg, 1981) - 5 items - modified items and response scale for this study; mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores reflect higher perceptions that youth matters to adults outside their family.
Ethnic/racial identity (MIBI - T) - Private Regard 12 months youth reported - Private Regard Subscale of the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity- Teen (MIBI-T) - 3 items (Scottham, Sellers, \& Nguyen, 2008; Rivas-Drake, Hughes, \& Way, 2009); mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores reflect more positive perceptions about one's ethnic/racial group.
Cultural Humility 4 months Mentor report - Empathic Feeling and Expression Subscale from Ethnocultural Empathy Scale (Wang et al., 2003) - 15 items - mean scores range from 1 to 6; 2 reversed scores items; higher scores reflect higher empathic feeling and expression
Self-efficacy beliefs for providing ethnic/racial support 12 months Mentor report - 6-item scale (Anderson et al., 2018) - mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores reflect higher self-efficacy
Mentor Attunement Scale - Youth Version 12 months Youth reported scale - MAS-Y; Pryce \& Deane, 2019; 15 items. Mean scores range from 1 to 6; higher scores indicate higher mentor attunement.
Openness to adult support 12 months Youth reported - Interpersonal Trust Scale (DuBois, 2006) - 5 items. modified some items and response scale for this study; 1 reversed scored item; mean scores range between 1 and 4; higher scores reflect more trust towards adults.
Community connectedness 12 months Youth reported measure; Whitlock, 2007; 5 items; modified the response scale for this study; 1 reversed scored item; mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores reflect higher community connectedness.
Ethnic identity (exploration) 12 months youth reported - Ethnic Identity Scale - exploration subscale Brief - 2 items (Douglass \& Umaña-Taylor, 2015); mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores reflect higher engagement in activities that explore one's ethnic/racial group
Youth-centered relationships 12 months Youth reported - Youth Centered Relationships Subscale of Youth Survey - 5 items. Youth-reported scale; mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores indicate a more youth-centric mentoring relationship.
Perceived Knowledge 4 months Mentor report - Adapted measure of Multicultural awareness, knowledge and skills scale (D'Andrea et al., 2003) - 13 items. Items were added and adapted to reflect the current intervention. Mean scores range from 1 to 4. Higher scores reflect higher perceived knowledge.
Activities/discussions on racial/ethnic socialization 12 months mentor reported - 6-item scale created for this study (Sanchez, Herrera, DuBois, \& Anderson, 2021). Mean scores range between 0 and 3. Higher scores reflect more frequent racial/ethnic socialization activities and discussions.
Mentor Attunement Scale 12 months Mentor reported scale - 7 item scale(Pryce \& Deane, 2019). Mean scores range between 1 and 6. Higher scores reflect higher mentor attunement.
Ethnic/racial identity (MIBI - T) - Public Regard 12 months youth reported - o Public Regard Subscale of the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity- Teen (MIBI-T) - 3 items (Scottham, Sellers, \& Nguyen, 2008; Rivas-Drake, Hughes, \& Way, 2009); mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores reflect more positive societal perceptions about one's ethnic/racial group.
Mentor support for ethnic/racial identity 12 months Youth reported scale (Sanchez et al., 2018) - adapted for the current study and added 5 items for a total of 11 items - 1 reversed scored item; Mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores indicate more support from mentors on youth's ethnic/racial identity.
Ethnic identity (affirmation) 12 months youth reported - affirmation subscale brief - 3 items (Douglass \& Umaña-Taylor, 2015); all items are reversed scored; mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores indicate higher affirmation about one's ethnic/racial group
Cultural Mistrust 12 months Youth reported - Cultural Mistrust Inventory for Adolescents (Terrell \& Terrell, 1981) - cultural mistrust in interpersonal relationships subscale modified by Sanchez \& DuBois (2006) - 11 items; 5 reversed scored items; mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores indicate more cultural mistrust towards White people
Coping efficacy with discrimination 12 months youth reported - 3 items adapted for this study (Sandler et al., 2000; Sanchez et al., 2017); mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores indicate higher efficacy in coping with racial discrimination.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Social Justice interest 4 months Mentor reported - Social Justice Interest subscale of the Social Issues Questionnaire (Miller et al., 2009) - 6 items - adapted for the current study to assess mentor's interest in engaging in social justice activities with their mentee; mean scores range from 1 to 9; higher scores indicate higher interest in engaging in social justice activities with mentees.
Emotional Closeness - Mentor 12 months Mentor reported scale - Match Characteristics Questionnaire - Closeness subscale - 5 items (Harris \& Nakkula (2004). Mean scores range between 1 and 6; higher scores reflect closer mentoring relationships.
Support seeking 12 months mentor reported - Mentee Support Seeking Scale - 4 items (Karcher et al., 2005); mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores indicate more mentee support-seeking behaviors perceived by mentors.
Bullying 12 months Youth reported - In the past month, I got in trouble for or could have gotten in trouble for...adapted from Bosworth, Espelage, \& Simon (1999) and Dahlberg, Toal, \& Behrens (1998).
5 items - Responses are on 3 point scale (0 times, 1 or 2 times, 3 or more times; 0 to 2 scale); higher mean scores reflect more risky behaviors Responses are on 3 point scale (0 times, 1 or 2 times, 3 or more times)Police & Juvenile Justice Contact 12 months Youth reported - "In the past 3 months, I:" Responses are on a 2-point scale (Yes = 1, No = 0); Higher sum score reflect more police and juvenile justice contact.
3 itemsEmotional regulation 12 months Youth reported - Adapted from the Middle School Youth Survey, originally from Prior et al. (2000); Responses are on a 4-point scale (Not at all true, A little true, Mostly true, Totally true); Mean responses range from 1 to 4 with higher scores reflecting higher emotional regulation.
4 itemsLoneliness 12 months youth reported - Loneliness Questionnaire-Short Version (Ebesutani et al., 2012) - 9 items; modified the response scale; mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores mean higher loneliness.
Academic performance 12 months Youth self-reported grades for 4 subjects: math, reading, social studies and science. A through F scale
Relationship satisfaction - mentor 12 months Satisfaction Subscale of the Investment Model Scale - 5 items (Rusbult et al., 1997; see Drew et al., 2020); mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores indicate greater perceived mentee support-seeking behaviors.
Mentor advocacy 12 months mentor reported - Mentoring Processes Scale (MPS) - 6 items (Tolan et al., 2020); 1 reversed scored item; mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores indicate higher mentor advocacy for mentees.
Match duration 12 months Duration of mentor-youth relationships gathered from case records; duration is reported in number of months.
Depressive symptoms 12 months Youth reported - Taken from the Health Measures' PROMIS Pediatric Depressive Symptoms instrument (2013). Responses are on a 5-point scale (Never, Almost Never, Sometimes, Often, Almost Always); 2 reversed scored items; Mean responses range from 1 to 5 with higher scores reflecting more depressive symptoms 10 items
Critical reflection 12 months Youth reported - Critical Reflection Subscale; Diemer et al., 2020) - 3 items; modified the response scale and excluded a survey item for this study; mean scores range between 1 to 4; higher scores mean higher level of critical analysis of socioeconomic and racial/ethnic inequalities.
Academic self efficacy 12 months Youth reported - Academic Self-Efficacy Subscale-Patterns of Adaptive Learning Scale (Midgley et al., 2000) - 5 items; mean scores range between 1 and 4; higher scores mean higher academic self-efficacy.
Bias Awareness 4 months Mentor reported - Bias Awareness Scale (Perry et al., 2015) - 4 items - response scale was adapted; one item is reversed scored; mean scores range from 1 to 6; higher scores indicate higher awareness of bias.
Authentic self 12 months Youth reported scale - Level of Adolescent Voice Scale (Harter, 2000) - with 13 items (3 were added by current investigators); 8 reversed scored items; mean scores range from 1 to 4; higher scores indicate that youth are able to be their authentic self around the mentors.
Emotional Closeness - Youth 12 months youth reported scale - Relational Satisfaction Subscale (Harris \& Nakkula, 2004) - 6 items; mean scores range between 1 and 4; higher scores reflect closer mentoring relationships.
Relationship satisfaction - youth 12 months Youth Report of Measure of Growth/Goal Focus in Youth Mentoring Relationships (DuBois, 2008) - 6 items; mean scores range between 1 and 4; higher scores reflect more growth/goal focus in mentoring relationship
Hopeful future expectations 12 months Youth reported - Abbreviated Version of the Hopeful Future Expectations (HFE) Scale (Callina et al., 2016) - adapted - 8 items; 1 reversed scored item; mean scores range between 1 and 5; higher scores mean more hopeful future.
System Justification Scale 12 months Youth reported - (Kay \& Jost, 2003) - 10 items - adapted the response scale for this study; mean scores range between 1 to 4; higher scores mean stronger beliefs that the world is a fair and just place.
Adolescent Critical Consciousness 12 months Youth reported - Critical Agency Subscale; Critical Behavior Subscale; McWhirter \& McWhirter, 2016) - 10 items; modified response scale for this study; mean score range between 1 to 4; higher scores mean higher critical agency and behavior.
Mentoring activities 12 months Mentor reported - Adapted Activity Log - 4 items (Karcher et al., 2010); mean scores range from 1 to 5; higher scores reflect more frequent mentoring activities.
Risky behaviors 12 months Youth - behaviors that youth has gotten in trouble for in the last 3 months: substance use (4 items - adapted from Clasen, Brown, \& Eicher (1986), status offenses (3 items - created for this survey), school discipline (4 items - adapted from Vandell et al. (2013)); o In the past 3 months, I got in trouble or could have gotten in trouble for... Responses are a 3-point scale: 0 times, 1 or 2 times, 3 or more times (0 to 2 scale). Higher mean scores reflect more risky behaviors.
o In the past 3 months, I got in trouble or could have gotten in trouble for...Responses are a 3-point scale: 0 times, 1 or 2 times, 3 or more times.Growth mindset 12 months Youth reported - Revised Implicit Theories of Intelligence (Self-Theory; DaCastella \& Byrne, 2015) Scale - 8 items; adapted the response scale for this study; mean scores range between 1 to 4; higher scores mean higher academic growth mindset
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
University of Illinois at Chicago
🇺🇸Chicago, Illinois, United States