Native Spirit: Significant Aim 3: Intervention

NCT06785311 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: STUDY00020073
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The proposed research will used community-based participatory research methods in an urban-based American Indian (AI) community to adapt, implement, and evaluate an after-school program, called Native Spirit (NS), that seeks to improve cultural identity, self-esteem, resilience, and prevent substance use by increasing cultural engagement. Prior research suggests that AI youth that are culturally engaged experience better health outcomes. Additionally, the use of culturally-specific after-school programs has been shown to increase feasibility and sustainability of prevention programs. In order to achieve the goals of this proposed study, the Principal Investigator (PI) will work with local community members and existing tribal partners to implement the 10-session culturally-grounded after-school program and evaluate the program with the following aims: Specific Aim 3 (R00): Examine the effectiveness of NS (increases exposure to local cultural values and activities), a program that seeks to prevent or decrease substance use by strengthening self-esteem, resilience, and cultural identity with 2 Indigenous communities in Arizona using a wait-list control design with 3 data collection timepoints and participant interviews.

Conditions

Substance Use; Self Esteem; Youth Drinking; Prevention, Suicide

Keywords

American Indian; Adolescent Health; Prevention; After-School Programs

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Past 30-Day Substance Use

  Data collection will focus on recent, self-reproted (past 30-day) use frequency of alcohol, cigarettes/e- cigarettes, marijuana, and other hard drugs (crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, etc.). The survey will also include a qualifying question on lifetime use of the following substances in order to measure delay of onset of use (in the case that participants have never used any of the measured substances).

  Baseline, Immediately Post-Invervention, 3 months follow-up post-intervention

• Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale

  Self-Reported measure of self-esteem using the Rosenberg self-esteem scale. The is scored by totaling the individual 4-point items after reverse-scoring the negatively worded items with a minimum score of 10 and maximum score of 40. Higher scores indicate a better outcome (stronger sense of self-esteem).

  Baseline, Immediately Post-Invervention, 3 months follow-up post-intervention

• Child and Youth Resilience Measure

  Self-Reported measure of resilience using the Child and Youth Resilience Measure. The items within the measures can be directly summed to gain a total score of an individual's resilience. Responses are on a 5-point Likert scale (going from 1-5), the minimum score is 17 and the maximum score is 85. Higher scores indicate a better outcome (stronger sense of resilience).

  Baseline, Immediately Post-Invervention, 3 months follow-up post-intervention

• Cultural Efficacy

  Self-Reported measure of cultural efficacy. This is on a 5-point Likert scale with a minimum score of 8 and maximum score of 40. Higher scores indicate a better outcome (cultural efficacy).

  Baseline, Immediately Post-Invervention, 3 months follow-up post-intervention

• Awareness of Connectedness Scale

  Self-Reported measure of awareness of connectedness to culture using the Awareness of Connectedness Scale. This is a 3-point Likert scale with scores ranging from 12 to 36. Higher scores indicate a better outcome (stronger awareness of connectedness).

  Baseline, Immediately Post-Invervention, 3 months follow-up post-intervention

Study Arms (2)

Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention group will receive the intervention (Native Spirit after-school program). Each intervention session is based on an Indigenous cultural value and cultural activity/practice that is specific to the community. The intervention is 10, 1.5 hour sessions that occur once/week from January-May 2025. After the Crossover the Intervention group will engage in "usual programming" August-December 2025.

Behavioral: Native Spirit After-School Program

Wait-List Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The wait-list group will receive control or "usual" programming. Usual programming includes a life skills program that focuses on financial wellness for teens, called "Money Matters" (Usual Practice). Participants will learn valuable financial life skills. Control sessions will be facilitated by the research site partner (after-school program employees) who typically implement their usual programming. Control sessions will be held at the research site. Each control session will last for 60-90 minutes, once a week for 10 weeks taking place from August 2025 - December 2025 After the Crossover the wait-list group will receive the intervention January-March 2026 (Cohort 1) and September-December 2026 (Cohort 2).

Behavioral: Native Spirit After-School Program

Interventions

Native Spirit After-School Program BEHAVIORAL

Native Spirit is a culturally-grounded after-school program that is community-specific. The program is 10-sessions/weeks long and each session is 1.5-2 hours in duration. Each session is guided by a local cultural knowledge holder and is focused on a different cultural value and accompanying cultural practice. Native Spirit aims to promote self-esteem, cultural efficacy, awareness of cultural connectedness, and resilience while preventing and/or slow down the initiation of substance use.

Also known as: Native Spirit

Intervention Group; Wait-List Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• English-speaking
• Currently in grade 7-12 at time of enrollment
• Member of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) OR member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe (PYT)
• Engaged in after school programs.

You may not qualify if:

• Non-American Indians will be excluded from statistical analysis

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Arizona State University: lead

Study Sites (2)

Way of Life Facility

Scottsdale, Arizona, 85256, United States

RECRUITING

Pascua Yaqui Tribe Boys & Girls Club

Tucson, Arizona, 85746, United States

NOT YET RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Substance-Related Disorders; Underage Drinking; Suicide Prevention

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders; Adolescent Behavior; Behavior; Alcohol Drinking; Drinking Behavior; Suicide; Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms

Study Officials

• Amanda Hunter, PhD

  Assistant Professor

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Amanda Hunter, PhD

CONTACT

(520) 300-1457; amanda.urbina@asu.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: Wait-list controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 11, 2025
• First Posted: January 21, 2025
• Study Start: January 9, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2027
• Last Updated: February 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (2)