Building Respectful Online Space (BROS): Evaluating a Co-designed Anti-cyberbullying Intervention Among Adolescents

NCT06796621 | Active Not Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: CUHK-2025-YL
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: The growing prevalence of cyberbullying throughout the world indicates the importance of anti-cyberbullying interventions, especially for adolescents. While few interventions target cyberbullying, content from different regions may not necessarily apply to local contexts, adolescents' viewpoints were not considered in the past designs, few local RCTs, and unclear sustainability. Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminarily effects of the co-designed anti-cyberbullying intervention: Building Respectful Online Space (BROS). Methods: A sample of around 90 aged 12 to 15 will be recruited from secondary schools in Hong Kong. This study will adopt a 2-arm experimental trial. Each class will be randomly assigned equally into the intervention arm (BROS) and control arm (Heathy Diet), and eligible students will be allocated to either arm accordingly. The intervention will be provided in one or 3 days based on the school schedule. Participants will be assessed at baseline, 3 weeks later, and 12-week follow-up assessments. The primary outcome is cyberbullying behaviour of perpetration and victimisation; the secondary outcome includes cyberbullying attitudes, sleep quality, and psychosocial well-being. Feasibility and acceptability will be assessed. And generalised estimating equations analysis will be used to investigate the research objectives. Potential contributions: The results of this study will provide evidence-based support for using a blended approach to prevent cyberbullying, promote psychosocial well-being, and promote sleep health. This intervention is dedicated to using evidence-to-user-driven ideas to develop culturally sensitive interventions to effectively prevent cyberbullying in the future.

Conditions

Cyberbullying

Keywords

Cyberbullying; Prevention; Adolescent

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Cyberbullying behaviour

  The Cyberbullying Behaviour Scale (CBBS) consists of E-Victimisation Scale (E-VS) and the E-Bullying Scale (E-BS), is the validated 11-item scale for measuring cyberbullying behaviour. The scale consist of two domain: 5-item of E-VS and 6-item of E-BS for adolescents with a 7-point Likert scale (Lam \& Li, 2013) that measure cyberbullying victimization and perpetration respectively. The sum score for E-VS range from 5-35, and E-BS from 5-42, and a higher score indicate severity of respective cyberbullying behavior (Lam \& Li, 2013). The Chinese version of CBBS will be used that was translated and validated by our research team.

  Baseline, pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 3 months follow-up assessment after intervention

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Cyberbullying attitude

  Baseline, pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 3 months follow-up assessment after intervention

• Sleep outcomes: Subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction

  Baseline, pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 3 months follow-up assessment after intervention

• Mental well-being

  Baseline, pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 3 months follow-up assessment after intervention

• Life satisfaction

  Baseline, pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 3 months follow-up assessment after intervention

Study Arms (2)

Building Respectful Online Space (BROS)

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention group participants will receive the BROS intervention across three sessions, depending on the school schedule, presented in a hybrid mode. The sessions focus on integrating psychoeducation, behavioural-specific cognitions, serious games, music, and reflection, as a means against cyberbullying. The content includes knowledge related to cyberbullying and online safety, cyberbullying coping skills, relationship skills, emotion management, and empathy towards victims through classroom sessions, short videos, serious games, and online musical therapy.

Behavioral: Building Respectful Online Space (BROS)

Healthy diet education program

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

For the control group participants, an alternative intervention (a healthy diet education program) with content unrelated to cyberbullying prevention will be given. The control group participants will receive the alternative intervention across three sessions. The content is based on recommendations from the Centre for Health Protection, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (CHP, 2024) on healthy eating pyramids, emotional eating, healthy weight management, and nutritional requirements for adolescents.

Behavioral: Healthy diet education program

Interventions

Building Respectful Online Space (BROS) BEHAVIORAL

Session 1 (40 minutes to 50 minutes): Respectful online relationship (Psychoeducation) using face-to-face approach with 40 minutes to 50 minutes online serious game Session 2 (40 minutes to 50 minutes): Navigating the online world (Psychoeducation) using face-to-face approach with 20 to 30 minutes online music therapy Session 3 (40 minutes to 50 minutes): Behaviour specific cognitions and reflection using face-to-face approach

Building Respectful Online Space (BROS)

Healthy diet education program BEHAVIORAL

Session 1 (40 - 50 minutes): Healthy Diet Pyramid (Psychoeducation) using face-to-face approach Session 2 (40 - 50 minutes): Mindful Eating and Healthy Weight Management (Psychoeducation) using face-to-face approach Session 3 (40 - 50 minutes): Healthy Eating Habits for Life (Psychoeducation)using face-to-face approach

Healthy diet education program

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 15 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Students in 1st to 3rd grades in secondary schools
• Students are able to read and understand Chinese
• Students obtained informed consent signed by their parents or legal guardians

You may not qualify if:

• Students in grades 4th through 6th who are heavily involved in homework and examination
• Students with severe diseases or co-occurring disorders
• Students' parents/ legal guardians who refuse to sign informed consent.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chinese University of Hong Kong: lead
• Concordia Lutheran School: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

New Territories, 0, Hong Kong

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cyberbullying

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Bullying; Aggression; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Harassment, Non-Sexual; Social Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: We will randomized two groups.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 22, 2025
• First Posted: January 28, 2025
• Study Start: February 12, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 29, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Last Updated: January 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Locations

HK (1)