A Trial of an Online Problem-solving Intervention for Aggression

NCT04130360 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 030755
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 908
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Aggressive behaviour among adolescents is a social problem that can be reduced by social problem-solving interventions. However, these interventions usually include more than one technique, and the specific techniques that are effective in reducing and preventing aggression remain to be identified. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to test whether the instruction and practice of problem-solving on their own are effective in changing aggressive behaviour among adolescents. As the intervention in this trial is aimed at the general population, it will be delivered online. The rapid growth in the use of the Internet among young people provides an opportunity to deliver interventions universally in a cheap and efficient way. Problem-solving skills are fundamental to effective behaviour change. Therefore, problem-solving skills will be measured to assess whether they mediate the effect of the intervention on aggressive behaviour. Finally, young people with callous-unemotional traits are less likely to change their problematic behaviour such as aggression after an intervention. Therefore, Callous-Unemotional traits will be measured to assess if they act as a moderator of effectiveness. It is expected that participants randomised to the intervention improve their problem-solving skills and consequentially, reduce their aggressive behaviours. In addition, participants with lower callous-unemotional traits are expected to have a greater change.

Conditions

Aggression

Keywords

problem-solving; youth; brief intervention; online intervention; young people; aggressive behaviour

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Aggression (trait)

  Aggression Questionnaire (AQ): Physical Aggression, Verbal Aggression, Hostility, Anger. Each item is responded from 1 (extrememly uncharacteristic of me) to 5 (extremely characteristic of me), with higher scores meaning higher aggression.

  1 month

• Aggression (frequency)

  Physical and relational aggression questionnaire. Each item is responded from 1 (never) to 5 (5 or more times), with higher scores meaning higher aggression.

  1 month

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Problem-solving skills

  1 month

• Problem-solving self-efficacy

  1 month

Study Arms (2)

Problem-solving

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Problem-solving

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Problem-solving BEHAVIORAL

The steps of problem-solving are explained to the participants. Then, they are presented two conflictive situations and they are asked to apply the problem-solving steps to find a solution. Once they finish, they are asked to apply the steps in a conflictive situation they have experience in the last month. In the end, they are reminded of the steps and encouraged to practice them in their daily conflicts.

Also known as: social problem-solving

Problem-solving

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 21 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Living in the UK
• Fluent in English

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Sheffield: lead
• University of Manchester: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Sheffield

Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2LT, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Aggression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Aberrant Motor Behavior in Dementia; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Social Behavior

Study Officials

• Laura Castillo-Eito

  University of Sheffield

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants are not told that they are being randomised or that they are participating in an intervention trial until they complete the follow-up. Randomisation is computerized and participants have no contact with a care provider or an investigator.
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Intervention and control group. Participants are randomised to one of them.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 16, 2019
• First Posted: October 17, 2019
• Study Start: October 25, 2019
• Primary Completion: March 30, 2020
• Study Completion: March 30, 2020
• Last Updated: November 20, 2020

Record last verified: 2019-10

Locations

GB (1)