The STRIDE Study (Strengthening Tolerance and Resilience in Dealing with Emotions): Pilot Testing of a School-Based Distress Tolerance Skills Program for Reducing Risk of Psychopathology in Adolescence
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrollment
- 74
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Feasibility
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Research suggests that an individual's perceived ability to withstand distressing or upsetting emotions (i.e., distress tolerance; DT) is a common risk factor across several mental health conditions that commonly emerge during adolescence. This study aims to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and initial efficacy of a classroom-based DT skills training program for middle school students. This study will also explore associations between changes in DT and internalizing symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression).
Detailed Description
A variety of deleterious mental health conditions have their peak age of onset in adolescence, including depression and anxiety. Distress tolerance (DT) - defined as the perceived or actual ability to withstand aversive emotional states - has been postulated as a transdiagnostic risk factor across several "emotional" disorders that typically emerge during adolescence. Importantly, while there is compelling evidence that DT is associated with emotion dysregulation and symptom severity, it is unclear whether modifying DT can reduce future risk for psychopathology in adolescent populations. This proposal aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of a classroom-based DT intervention for middle school students. Additionally, this proposal will examine associations between changes in DT and internalizing symptoms.
Primary Objective:
To evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy of a classroom-based DT skills training program for middle school students.
Secondary Objectives:
To examine whether participation in the DT skills training program is associated with lower severity of internalizing symptoms over the course of the academic year.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 11 Years to 14 Years (Child)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Middle school aged-youth attending Valley Catholic Middle School in grade 6, 7, or 8
Exclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Arms & Interventions
Distress Tolerance Skills Training
Students will participate in a series of classroom-based lessons aimed at increasing distress tolerance.
Intervention: Distress Tolerance Skills Training (Behavioral)
Standard Curriculum (Control)
Students will not participate in the distress tolerance skills training. They will receive only their standard curriculum during class time.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Feasibility
Time Frame: Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention
Consent rates during enrollment and attrition rates during the study will be used to assess the feasibility of the intervention.
Acceptability
Time Frame: Immediately post-intervention
The investigators will use a brief feedback survey at the end of the study to gather information about participants' experiences of the intervention. Responses on this survey will be used to determine the acceptability of the intervention.
Distress Tolerance
Time Frame: Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up
The investigators will assess change in distress tolerance from pre-intervention to post-intervention. Distress tolerance will be indexed by total scores on the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), which is a 15-item self-report measure that assesses the respondent's perceived ability to withstand distressing or upsetting emotional states. Possible total scores can range from 15 to 75. Higher scores indicate higher distress tolerance. This outcome measure will be examined and compared for both the intervention group and the control group.
Secondary Outcomes
- Internalizing Symptoms(Pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up)
Investigators
Bonnie Nagel
Principal Investigator
Oregon Health and Science University