School-based Practices in Arts and Resilience for Kids

NCT06945497 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 25-02-7541
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 250
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

This proposal will implement and test feasibility and efficacy of school-based art therapy and yoga/mindfulness programming to reduce mental health disparities and foster resilience in youth. We will conduct a cross-over randomized trial with n=250 youth (any race/ethnicity or gender, ages 11-14) from two schools: one serving majority Black/African American students and one serving a population-representative ethnoracial demographic with 50% economically disadvantaged students. Baseline data collection will assess experiences of discrimination, negative experiences, positive experiences, and severity of posttraumatic stress, anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, and resilience. Youth will be randomly assigned to art therapy or yoga/mindfulness for a quarter. Hour-long weekly sessions will occur during elective course times within school to bolster accessibility and generate data to inform future school-based care models for sustainability. Target schools co-developed this design with the research team. At the end of the quarter, participants will engage in post-intervention data collection, including qualitative interviews regarding their experience with the school-based programming. Participants will then cross over to the yoga/mindfulness or art therapy for the subsequent quarter, such that all participants receive both modalities. The methods described above will be repeated, including the assessments. Academic performance will be assessed throughout. We hypothesize that both modalities will be effective in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression related to discrimination, adversity, and trauma that disproportionately impacts racially and ethnically minoritized youth. We anticipate that qualitative feedback will identify points of optimization for programming and inform which students may be most responsive to what intervention(s).

Conditions

Anxiety; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Trauma

Keywords

Adversity; Trauma; Stress; Anxiety; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Art Therapy; Yoga; Mindfulness; Child and Adolescent

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Anxiety

  We will measure severity of self-reported anxiety symptoms before, during, and after interventions, up to 3 months post interventions, for a total duration of one year. To measure severity of self-reported anxiety symptoms, we will use the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders, a valid and reliable measure for children and adolescents ages 7-17. The SCARED captures symptoms related to panic disorder / somatic symptoms, generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety, social anxiety, and school avoidance.

  One year

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Posttraumatic Stress

  One year

• Depression

  One year

• Resilience

  One year

Study Arms (2)

Art Therapy, Yoga/Mindfulness

EXPERIMENTAL

In this arm, participants will first engage in art therapy, then yoga/mindfulness interventions.

Behavioral: Art Therapy; Behavioral: Yoga/Mindfulness

Yoga/Mindfulness, Art Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

In this arm, participants will first engage in yoga/mindfulness, then art therapy interventions.

Behavioral: Art Therapy; Behavioral: Yoga/Mindfulness

Interventions

Art Therapy BEHAVIORAL

The art therapy program will include different weekly experientials to explore mindfulness, establish safety, cultivate relaxation, find strength, honor self-identity, and cultivate community. Art media will include markers, colored pencils, fabrics, watercolors, collage, and yarn.

Art Therapy, Yoga/Mindfulness; Yoga/Mindfulness, Art Therapy

Yoga/Mindfulness BEHAVIORAL

The yoga/mindfulness curriculum will explore consciousness (awareness of self and others), compassion, confidence, courage, and community. Each week, new movement and breathing exercises will be learned.

Art Therapy, Yoga/Mindfulness; Yoga/Mindfulness, Art Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 11 Years - 14 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Ages 11-14 years, inclusive.
• Any gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
• English-speaking, given that study interventions and assessments will be in English.
• Ability to provide written informed assent or oral assent.
• Caregiver ability to provide informed consent and ability to assist in completing study.
• Student enrolled in collaborating school.
• Note: here, we define 'caregiver' as the participant's parent and/or legal guardian.

You may not qualify if:

• Current or past bipolar I/II disorder
• Current or past psychotic disorder
• Autism spectrum disorders or any other severe developmental disorder

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Wayne State University: lead
• Chandler Park Academy: collaborator
• Jefferson Middle School: collaborator
• Lakeview Public Schools: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Chandler Park Academy Middle School

Harper Woods, Michigan, 48225, United States

Location

Jefferson Middle School

Saint Clair Shores, Michigan, 48081, United States

Location

Related Publications (29)

• Grasser LR, Marusak H. Strong Mind, Strong Body: The Promise of Mind-Body Interventions to Address Growing Mental Health Needs Among Youth. Mental Health Sci. 2023 Jun;1(2):58-66. doi: 10.1002/mhs2.16. Epub 2023 Mar 22.

  PMID: 37810896 BACKGROUND

• Lesté A, Rust J. Effects of dance on anxiety. American Journal of Dance Therapy. 1990/03/01 1990;12(1):19-25. doi:10.1007/BF00844312

  BACKGROUND

• Lee H-J, Jang S-H, Lee S-Y, Hwang K-S. Effectiveness of dance/movement therapy on affect and psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. The Arts in Psychotherapy. 2015/09/01/ 2015;45:64-68. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2015.07.003

  BACKGROUND

• Grasser LR, Al-Saghir H, Wanna C, Spinei J, Javanbakht A. Moving Through the Trauma: Dance/Movement Therapy as a Somatic-Based Intervention for Addressing Trauma and Stress Among Syrian Refugee Children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019 Nov;58(11):1124-1126. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2019.07.007. Epub 2019 Jul 23.

  PMID: 31348987 BACKGROUND

• Feen-Calligan H, Ruvolo Grasser L, Debryn J, et al. Art therapy with Syrian refugee youth in the United States: An intervention study. The Arts in Psychotherapy. 2020/07/01/ 2020;69:101665. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2020.101665

  BACKGROUND

• Feder A, Fred-Torres S, Southwick SM, Charney DS. The Biology of Human Resilience: Opportunities for Enhancing Resilience Across the Life Span. Biol Psychiatry. 2019 Sep 15;86(6):443-453. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.07.012. Epub 2019 Jul 24.

  PMID: 31466561 BACKGROUND

• Brown EC, Graham JW, Hawkins JD, Arthur MW, Baldwin MM, Oesterle S, Briney JS, Catalano RF, Abbott RD. Design and analysis of the Community Youth Development Study longitudinal cohort sample. Eval Rev. 2009 Aug;33(4):311-34. doi: 10.1177/0193841X09337356. Epub 2009 Jun 9.

  PMID: 19509119 BACKGROUND

• Lerner RM, Lerner JV, Almerigi JB, et al. Positive youth development, participation in community youth development programs, and community contributions of fifth grade adolescents: findings from the First Wave of the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development. The Journal of Early Adolescence. 2005;25:17-71.

  BACKGROUND

• Minton SC, Faber R. Thinking with the Dancing Brain: Embodying Neuroscience. Rowman & Littlefield; 2016.

  BACKGROUND

• Bailey JM, Bartlem KM, Wiggers JH, Wye PM, Stockings EAL, Hodder RK, Metse AP, Regan TW, Clancy R, Dray JA, Tremain DL, Bradley T, Bowman JA. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the provision of preventive care for modifiable chronic disease risk behaviours by mental health services. Prev Med Rep. 2019 Aug 14;16:100969. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100969. eCollection 2019 Dec.

  PMID: 31497500 BACKGROUND

• Henrich J, Heine SJ, Norenzayan A. Most people are not WEIRD. Nature. 2010 Jul 1;466(7302):29. doi: 10.1038/466029a. No abstract available.

  PMID: 20595995 BACKGROUND

• Alegría M, Green JG, McLaughlin KA, Loder S. Disparities in child and adolescent mental health and mental health services in the US. New York, NY: William T Grant Foundation. 2015:26.

  BACKGROUND

• Hampton-Anderson JN, Carter S, Fani N, Gillespie CF, Henry TL, Holmes E, Lamis DA, LoParo D, Maples-Keller JL, Powers A, Sonu S, Kaslow NJ. Adverse childhood experiences in African Americans: Framework, practice, and policy. Am Psychol. 2021 Feb-Mar;76(2):314-325. doi: 10.1037/amp0000767.

  PMID: 33734797 BACKGROUND

• Slopen N, Shonkoff JP, Albert MA, Yoshikawa H, Jacobs A, Stoltz R, Williams DR. Racial Disparities in Child Adversity in the U.S.: Interactions With Family Immigration History and Income. Am J Prev Med. 2016 Jan;50(1):47-56. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.06.013. Epub 2015 Sep 2.

  PMID: 26342634 BACKGROUND

• Bremner JD, Ortego RA, Campanella C, Nye JA, Davis LL, Fani N, Vaccarino V. Neural correlates of PTSD in women with childhood sexual abuse with and without PTSD and response to paroxetine treatment: A placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. J Affect Disord Rep. 2023 Dec;14:100615. doi: 10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100615. Epub 2023 Jun 24.

  PMID: 38088987 BACKGROUND

• Henrich J, Heine SJ, Norenzayan A. The weirdest people in the world? Behav Brain Sci. 2010 Jun;33(2-3):61-83; discussion 83-135. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X0999152X. Epub 2010 Jun 15.

  PMID: 20550733 BACKGROUND

• Waldman SA, Terzic A. Health Care Evolves From Reactive to Proactive. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2019 Jan;105(1):10-13. doi: 10.1002/cpt.1295.

  PMID: 30597564 BACKGROUND

• Grasser LR, Jovanovic T. Neural Impacts of Stigma, Racism, and Discrimination. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging. 2022 Dec;7(12):1225-1234. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.06.012. Epub 2022 Jul 8.

  PMID: 35811064 BACKGROUND

• Grasser LR, Jovanovic T. Safety learning during development: Implications for development of psychopathology. Behav Brain Res. 2021 Jun 25;408:113297. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113297. Epub 2021 Apr 18.

  PMID: 33862062 BACKGROUND

• Cross D, Fani N, Powers A, Bradley B. Neurobiological Development in the Context of Childhood Trauma. Clin Psychol (New York). 2017 Jun;24(2):111-124. doi: 10.1111/cpsp.12198. Epub 2017 May 20.

  PMID: 30906116 BACKGROUND

• Fani N, Stenson AF, van Rooij SJH, La Barrie DL, Jovanovic T. White matter microstructure in trauma-exposed children: Associations with pubertal stage. Dev Sci. 2021 Nov;24(6):e13120. doi: 10.1111/desc.13120. Epub 2021 May 13.

  PMID: 33983665 BACKGROUND

• Webb EK, Harnett NG. The biological embedding of structural inequities: new insight from neuroscience. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2024 Jan;49(1):337-338. doi: 10.1038/s41386-023-01655-8. No abstract available.

  PMID: 37463977 BACKGROUND

• Fani N, White D, Marshall-Lee E, Hampton-Anderson J. Antiracist Practice in Psychiatry: Principles and Recommendations. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2022 Jul;20(3):270-276. doi: 10.1176/appi.focus.20220045. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

  PMID: 37205017 BACKGROUND

• Powers A, Fani N, Cross D, Ressler KJ, Bradley B. Childhood trauma, PTSD, and psychosis: Findings from a highly traumatized, minority sample. Child Abuse Negl. 2016 Aug;58:111-8. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.06.015. Epub 2016 Jun 29.

  PMID: 27371800 BACKGROUND

• Ginty AT, Kraynak TE, Fisher JP, Gianaros PJ. Cardiovascular and autonomic reactivity to psychological stress: Neurophysiological substrates and links to cardiovascular disease. Auton Neurosci. 2017 Nov;207:2-9. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2017.03.003. Epub 2017 Mar 16.

  PMID: 28391987 BACKGROUND

• Nicolaides NC, Kyratzi E, Lamprokostopoulou A, Chrousos GP, Charmandari E. Stress, the stress system and the role of glucocorticoids. Neuroimmunomodulation. 2015;22(1-2):6-19. doi: 10.1159/000362736. Epub 2014 Sep 12.

  PMID: 25227402 BACKGROUND

• Akil H. Stressed and depressed. Nat Med. 2005 Feb;11(2):116-8. doi: 10.1038/nm0205-116. No abstract available.

  PMID: 15692589 BACKGROUND

• Ainamani HE, Weierstall-Pust R, Bahati R, Otwine A, Tumwesigire S, Rukundo GZ. Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and the associated factors among children and adolescents with a history of maltreatment in Uganda. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2022 Jan 10;13(1):2007730. doi: 10.1080/20008198.2021.2007730. eCollection 2022.

  PMID: 35028113 BACKGROUND

• Gazendam FJ, Krypotos AM, Kamphuis JH, van der Leij AR, Huizenga HMH, Eigenhuis A, Kindt M. From adaptive to maladaptive fear: Heterogeneity in threat and safety learning across response systems in a representative sample. Int J Psychophysiol. 2020 Dec;158:271-287. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.09.017. Epub 2020 Oct 17.

  PMID: 33080297 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Wounds and Injuries

Interventions

Art Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sensory Art Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Lana R Grasser, Ph.D.

  Wayne State University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Lana R Grasser, Ph.D.

CONTACT

313-389-1777; lgrasser@med.wayne.edu

Ujala Janjua

CONTACT

313-389-1777; hw9356@wayne.edu

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 18, 2025
• First Posted: April 25, 2025
• Study Start: September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2027
• Last Updated: April 25, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: We will share IPD and supporting information within three years of the end date of data collection. Data will be shared indefinitely (no end date), unless individual participants choose to withdraw their data from data sharing.
• Access Criteria: IPD and supporting information will be publicly accessible via GitHub, an online website that is free/open source.

Locations

US (2)