Clinical Trial: Effectiveness of Treatment for Relational Aggression in Urban African American Girls

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Determining the Efficacy of a Relational Aggression Intervention for Urban African American Girls

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 Summary:

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, an
Sponsor: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Current 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 ]


Original Primary Outcome:

  • Peer nominations [ Time Frame: Immediately post intervention ]
  • Playground observations [ Time Frame: Immediately post intervention ]
  • Children's Social Behavior Questionnaire [ Time Frame: Immediately post intervention and 9-month follow-up ]
  • Social Cognitive Assessment Profile [ Time Frame: Immediately post intervention and 9-month follow-up ]
  • Cartoon Based Hostile Attributional Bias Measure [ Time Frame: Immediately post intervention and 9-month follow-up ]


Current Secondary Outcome:

  • 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 ]


Original Secondary Outcome:

  • Nursing reports of injuries [ Time Frame: Immediately post intervention and 9-month follow-up ]
  • Discipline referrals and suspensions [ Time Frame: Immediately post intervention and 9-month follow-up ]
  • Academic Performance Rating Scale [ Time Frame: Immediately post intervention and 9-month follow-up ]
  • Homework Performance Questionnaire [ Time Frame: Immediately post intervention and 9-month follow-up ]
  • Asher-Wheeler Loneliness Questionnaire [ Time Frame: Immediately post intervention and 9-month follow-up ]
  • Behavior Symptoms Index of the BASC [ Time Frame: Immediately post intervention and 9-month follow-up ]
  • Student-Teacher Relationship Scale [ Time Frame: Immediately post intervention and 9-month follow-up ]


Information By: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Dates:
Date Received: July 30, 2007
Date Started: October 2007
Date Completion:
Last Updated: June 3, 2015
Last Verified: June 2015