Self-Defense Training in Women With Trauma

NCT01380379 | Completed Results

• 2 other identifiers: SU-04152011-770120776
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 9
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Previous research has shown that self-defense training can lead to gains in women's assertiveness, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and physical competence, and decreases in anxiety, helplessness, fear, and avoidant behaviors. However, most of this research has been conducted with healthy women who had not previously experienced physical or sexual violence. The investigators believe that women with such trauma histories require additional care because of potential triggering symptoms. As such, the investigators are mindful of the potential for triggering trauma symptoms and will work with the women so that they feel safe and comfortable in their participation. This pilot study aims to examine whether similar psychological gains from self-defense training are made in women who have previous experiences of physical and/or sexual violence.

Conditions

Depression; Anxiety; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Keywords

physical violence; sexual violence

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Self-efficacy From Baseline to Post-treatment

  General self-efficacy (Schwartz and Jerusalem, 1993) is a measure of one's perceived self-competence. Scores are summed across 10 items, and range between 10-40, where higher scores reflect a stronger sense of personal competence.

  Change in GSE from baseline to 8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Assertiveness Between Baseline and Post-intervention

  Change in assertiveness from baseline to post-class (8 weeks)

Study Arms (1)

Life skills and self-defense training

EXPERIMENTAL

Women will participate in a therapeutic group which covers education, skills, and empowerment activities.

Behavioral: Life skills and self-defense training

Interventions

Life skills and self-defense training BEHAVIORAL

8 week class which meets once per week for 2.5 hours. Each class contains the following components: 1) life skills/education training. This includes basic education about physical and sexual assaults, assault risks, dating and communication, assertiveness training and boundary setting, 2) physical self-defense training, 3) supportive therapy/debriefing.

Life skills and self-defense training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 21 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Women ages 21-65 years
• History of physical and/or sexual violence, with subsequent interpersonal or psychological distress (e.g., depression or anxiety) related to this history.

You may not qualify if:

• Substance abuse in the past 6 months
• Significant medical conditions that would preclude safe participation in the study
• High levels of depression with significant suicide risk
• Pregnant women
• Active symptoms of psychosis or psychiatric instability
• History of assaultive behavior or is judged to be at potential risk to assault others.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Stanford University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Stanford University School of Medicine

Stanford, California, 94305, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression; Anxiety Disorders; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Disorders; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr. Jennifer Keller
• Organization: Stanford University

jkeller@stanford.edu

650-724-0070

Study Officials

• Jennifer Keller

  Stanford University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Senior Research Scholar

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 18, 2011
• First Posted: June 27, 2011
• Study Start: April 1, 2011
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2013
• Study Completion: November 1, 2015
• Last Updated: February 1, 2017
• Results First Posted: February 1, 2017

Record last verified: 2016-12

Locations

US (1)