Testing the Competency-based Theory of Change for Suicide Risk Among Young Male Internet Users With Societal Masculinity

NCT04591223 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: 17602620
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

To propose a competency-based theory of change for reducing suicide risks among male Internet users with salient traits of societal masculinity; To test whether the theory of change using the competency-based model has additional effects on reducing self-harm and/or suicidal ideation in addition to the online social work treatment-as-usual model; To provide online social work service providers with evidence-based measures for reducing the risks of self-harm and/or suicide among young male Internet users.

Conditions

Self-Harm, Deliberate; Suicidal Ideation; Masculinity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (10)

• Change from baseline Adult Suicidal Ideation at 1-month, 3-month and 5-month

  Change in scores on Suicidal ideation as measured by the self-report the Adult Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (ASIQ-4) - the four-item short form in Chinese, scoring on a 7-point scale ranging from 0 to 24. A higher score on the scale suggests a higher risk of suicide.

  Baseline,1-month, 3-month, 5-month

• Change from baseline measurement of hopelessness at 1-month, 3-month and 5-month

  Hopelessness will be assessed by four questions measuring hopelessness extracted from the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS4), scoring on a 6-point scale ranging from 0 to 20. A higher score on the scale suggests a higher levels of depression, suicidal intent, and/or ideation.

  Baseline, 1-month, 3-month, 5-month

• Change from baseline measurement of depression at 1-month, 3-month and 5-month

  Depression will be assessed via 12 questions from the short-form General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), scoring on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 to 36. A higher score on the scale suggests a higher level of emotional distress and depression.

  Baseline, 1-month, 3-month, 5-month

• Change of baseline sense of competency at 1-month, 3-month and 5-month

  Sense of competency will be assessed via 40 questions from the Chinese Physical Self-Description Questionnaire-Short Form (CPSDQ-S), scoring on a 6-point scale ranging from 0 to 200. A higher score suggest a higher level of self-perceived physical competency and self-esteem.

  Baseline, 1-month, 3-month, 5-month

• Change of baseline perceived social support at 1-month, 3-month and 5-month

  Social support will be assessed using the Chinese version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS-C). The MSPSS measures the degree of social support received from family, friends, and significant others, and has been proven to have good internal and test-retest reliability and moderate construct validity

  Baseline, 1-month, 3-month, 5-month

• Change of baseline measurements of weight (body composition) at 1-month, 3-month, 5-month

  Weight, as a one of the indicators of body composition, will be measured in kilograms at four different time points.

  Baseline, 1-month, 3-month, 5-month

• Change of baseline measurements of skinfold (body composition) at 1-month, 3-month, 5-month

  A skinfold caliper will be used to assess the skinfold thickness, which is considered to be one of the indicators of body composition.

  Baseline, 1-month, 3-month, 5-month

• Change of baseline measurements of hip and waist girth (body composition) at 1-month, 3-month, 5-month

  Both hip and waist girth will be measured in inches at four different time points as part of the measurement of body composition.

  Baseline, 1-month, 3-month, 5-month

• Change of baseline measurement of self-reported compliance to service at baseline, 1-month, 3-month, 5-month

  Questionnaire will be distributed to subjects to assess their compliance to service: frequency of service use, including medical and psychosocial services at four different time points.

  Baseline, 1-month, 3-month, 5-month

• Change of baseline measurement of suicidal behavior at 1-month, 3-month, 5-month

  Subjects were expected to answer three separate questions with dichotomous yes/no responses: in the past few weeks, (1) have you thought about committing suicide? 2) have you been actively planning to commit suicide? 3) did you make any suicide attempts.

  Baseline, 1-month, 3-month, 5-month

Study Arms (2)

TAU + six weekly sessions of competency-based module (CbM)

EXPERIMENTAL

This group of participants will be receiving online social work (OSW) treatment as usual (TAU) from NGO service provider as well as a well-designed, one on one structural physical workout module to be offered by a licensed senior physical trainer in public sports ground or gymnasium.

Behavioral: Competency-based physical training (CbM)

TAU

NO INTERVENTION

This group of participants will be receiving online social work (OSW) treatment as usual (TAU) from NGO service provider.

Interventions

Competency-based physical training (CbM) BEHAVIORAL

The intervention to be added to online social work treatment as usual (OSW) is a well-designed, one-on-one structural physical workout module which will be offered by a licensed senior physical trainer in public sports ground or gymnasium. The aim is to strengthen participants' sense of competence, improve their physical fitness, self-confidence and self-image through an outcome-driven Circuit training. One of the chief advantages of Circuit training is its adaptability. Circuit training can be performed with gym equipment and/or bodyweight exercises which is deemed to be suitable for beginner and easy to practice at home on oneself. Participants can continue to replicate the exercise with or without any equipment. The program will be delivered in six one-hour sessions, including face-to-face and online mode, over one month.

TAU + six weekly sessions of competency-based module (CbM)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 39 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Male Internet user
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Individuals who meet the cut-off of 1.0 on the Chinese Adult Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (ASIQ4); Self-injury incidents in the past 12 months

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals with severe physical disabilities

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, 0000, Hong Kong

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Self-Injurious Behavior; Suicidal Ideation; Masculinity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Suicide; Social Behavior

Study Officials

• Yik Wa Law

  The University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Sik-ying Ho

  The University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Yik Wa Law

CONTACT

+852-3917-5940; flawhk@hku.hk

Sik-ying Ho

CONTACT

+852-3917-2091; psyho@hku.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 9, 2020
• First Posted: October 19, 2020
• Study Start: September 1, 2020
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2024
• Study Completion: June 1, 2024
• Last Updated: May 10, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)