The Effectiveness of a Dutch Program in Preventing Criminal Exploitation

NCT07157761 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 1434.201.001.a
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the prevention program 'Buit in de Klas' is effective.

Conditions

Delinquency; Externalizing Behavior

Keywords

criminal exploitation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Knowledge about criminal exploitation

  Knowledge of criminal exploitation will be assessed using six questions. First, participants are asked: 'Do you know what criminal exploitation is?' Those who respond with 'yes' or 'a little' are then invited to describe, in their own words, what it entails. In addition, a multiple-choice question asks participants to select the definition that best fits criminal exploitation. A subsequent item asks: 'How well do you think you can recognize signs of criminal exploitation?' Another question assesses whether participants know someone who has been asked to engage in criminal activity, and, if so, how they recognized this.

  baseline (T0), three months after the program ended for the intervention group (or after the waiting period for the control group) (T1), and at 6 months post-program (T2).

• Attitudes toward criminal exploitation

  Attitudes will be measured using a questionnaire adapted from the Attitude Towards Delinquent Behaviour Questionnaire (ATDS; Menard \& Huizinga, 1994). Nine items will be rated on a 4-point Likert scale, with response options ranging from 'not wrong at all' to 'very wrong.' An example item is: 'What do you think about someone your age stealing something worth more than 50 euros?. Empathy towards peers will be measured using three statements (e.g., 'I feel sorry for classmates who are treated unfairly').

  baseline (T0), three months after the program ended for the intervention group (or after the waiting period for the control group) (T1), and at 6 months post-program (T2).

• Help-seeking behaviour

  Will be measured using the 12-item Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) (Zimet et al., 1990). Participants rate statements such as "I have a special person who is a real source of comfort to me" and "I can talk about my problems with my family" on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = very strongly disagree to 5 = very strongly agree). Higher scores indicate greater levels of experienced support. And a question that assesses whether they know where to find help, either for themselves or for a peer who may be at risk of criminal exploitation.

  baseline (T0), three months after the program ended for the intervention group (or after the waiting period for the control group) (T1), and at 6 months post-program (T2).

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Externalizing behaviour

  Baseline (T0) and 6 months after the program (T2)

Other Outcomes (6)

• Demographic, personal, socioeconomic, and family background

  Baseline (T0)

• Parent-child relationship

  baseline (T0) and at 6 months post-program (T2)

• Presence of Deviant peers

  baseline (T0) and at 6 months post-program (T2)

Study Arms (2)

experimental group

EXPERIMENTAL

The program is taught by a trusted teacher of the students (for example, their mentor). The program consists of a lesson of about one hour. It includes a short film and an interactive chat box that allows students to chat with the main character of the film. In addition, there is a guideline for discussing the topic in the classroom and information on where to find help.

Behavioral: Buit in de klas

control group

NO INTERVENTION

This group will not participate in the program. They will receive the program afterwards, once data collection is finished.

Interventions

Buit in de klas BEHAVIORAL

The program is taught by a trusted teacher of the students (for example, their mentor). The program consists of a lesson of about one hour. It includes a short film and an interactive chat box that allows students to chat with the main character of the film. In addition, there is a guideline for discussing the topic in the classroom and information on where to find help.

experimental group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 20 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• The participant is between 12-20 years old.
• The particpant attend school.

You may not qualify if:

• Participants are younger than 12 years old or older than 20 years old.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Utrecht University: lead
• VU University of Amsterdam: collaborator
• Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Utrecht University

Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 CS, Netherlands

RECRUITING

Study Officials

• Jessica J Asscher, PhD.

  Utrecht University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Marit I van de Mheen, Msc.

CONTACT

+31643264016; m.i.vandemheen@uu.nl

Jessica J Asscher, PhD.

CONTACT

+31302533550; j.j.asscher@uu.nl

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD candidate

Model Details: A cluster RCT will be used to determine the effectiveness of the program. Within each school, classes will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group, in which the program starts as soon as possible, or to a waitlist control group, which starts after the follow-up period (six months). Randomization to either the experimental or control group will take place using a computerized randomization in a 1:1 ratio.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 28, 2025
• First Posted: September 5, 2025
• Study Start: November 5, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2026
• Last Updated: September 5, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL
• Time Frame: The data will become available after the completion of the program and data collection.

Locations

NL (1)