R4Power: An Online Resilience Program for Adolescents

Phase 1

• Conditions: Depression; Anxiety
• Interventions: Behavioral: R4Power Program; Other: Waitlist Control

• Registration Number: NCT00641368
• Lead Sponsor: Swarthmore College

Brief Summary

The study will evaluate the R4Power program, an online intervention designed to teach adolescents coping and problem-solving skills.

Detailed Description

This study examines the feasibility of a 10-lesson web-based intervention, the R4Power program, and its effectiveness in preventing symptoms of depression and anxiety. The R4Power Program teaches cognitive and problem-solving skills covered in classroom based interventions, including the Penn Resiliency Program, that have been found to reduce or prevent symptoms of depression in children and adolescents. This study examines whether adolescents can benefit from learning these skills through a computer (rather than classroom) intervention.

Adolescents in grades 6 through 8 who participate in this study will be assigned to one of two conditions: an intervention group that will complete the R4Power program during the first year (R4Power1), or a waitlist control group that will complete the R4Power program the following year (R4Power2). Students will complete the 10-lesson program over the course of twelve weeks. They will learn and practice cognitive skills (recognizing the link between their thoughts and feelings, identifying thinking traps, challenging their negative beliefs) and problem-solving skills (assertiveness, relaxation and distraction, overcoming procrastination, and decision making). Adolescents who participate in this study will be followed for one year, and their coping responses and symptoms of depression and anxiety will be assessed at four points: at the beginning of the study (baseline) and at follow-up assessments approximately 4, 12 and 16 months after baseline.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2007-10
• Status Verified: 2008-03
• Study First Submitted: 2008-03-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-03-17
• Last Update Submitted: 2008-03-17
• Study First Posted: 2008-03-24
• Last Update Posted: 2008-03-24
• Primary Completion: 2009-10
• Study Completion: 2009-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 200

Inclusion Criteria

• 6th-8th grade students attending participating school OR adolescents aged 11-15 living in greater Philadelphia area
• Access to high speed internet connection (at home, school, or another location)

Exclusion Criteria

• Below 6th grade reading level, as reported by parents

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1	R4Power Program	R4Power Program
2	Waitlist Control	Waitlist Control

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Adolescents' coping strategies by self-report	Measured at baseline and follow-ups approximately 4, 12, and 16 months after baseline
Adolescents' depressive symptoms by self-report	Measured at baseline and follow-ups approximately 4, 12, and 16 months after baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Adolescents' symptoms of anxiety by self-report	Measured at baseline and follow-ups approximately 4, 12, and 16 months after baseline

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Swarthmore College; 🇺🇸 Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States