Impact of Device Free Summer Camp on Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing

NCT07761143 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: MTC_24_25
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 333
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to understand if attendance of a device-free summer camp, representing a shift from a digital environment to one that is device free and involves in person social interaction, can change mental health status and brain physiology in teens age 12-17. The main question it aims to answer is:

• How much is aggregate mental health and its various dimensions and components changed at the end of the camp attendance relative to the start of camp.
• How much is brain physiology, as measured by EEG change, changed at the end of camp relative to the start of camp. Participants are recruited from among teens signed up to attend 2 or 3.5 week sessions a summer camp in Maine.

Conditions

Mental Health

Keywords

MHQ; Mental Health Assessment; Device-free summer camp; Mental Wellbeing; Wellbeing; Summer Camp; Smartphones

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change from Baseline in Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) at End of Camp

  The Mental Health Quotient or MHQ is an aggregate score of mental health computed from the 47 items of the MHQ assessment. The score ranges from -100 to +200, where higher scores indicate better mental health outcomes. Negative scores indicate significant symptoms that impact function (Distressed/Struggling range), while positive scores reflect the wide range of normal function (Enduring to Thriving). Change is calculated by subtracting the baseline score from the end of camp score.

  Baseline (Day 1) to end of camp attendance (up to 3.5 weeks).

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change from Baseline in Ratings of 47 MHQ Items After Camp Attendance

  Baseline (Day 1) to end of camp attendance (up to 3.5 weeks).

Study Arms (1)

Maine Teen Camp attendees

EXPERIMENTAL

Attendance of a residential device-free summer camp for teens for 2 to 3.5 weeks characterized by in-person interaction and nature rich outdoor activities.

Other: Attendance of device-free summer camp

Interventions

Attendance of device-free summer camp OTHER

Attendance of a residential device-free summer camp in Maine for 2-3.5 weeks.

Maine Teen Camp attendees

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Attendance of Maine Teen Camp sessions during summer months of 2024 and 2025.

You may not qualify if:

• None

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sapien Labs: lead
• University of California, San Diego: collaborator
• Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Maine Teen Camp

Porter, Maine, 04068, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior

Study Officials

• Tara Thiagarajan, PhD

  Sapien Labs

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Pre- post- study of a natural intervention (summer camp)

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 6, 2026
• First Posted: August 12, 2026
• Study Start: July 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: August 17, 2025
• Study Completion: August 17, 2025
• Last Updated: August 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF
• Time Frame: August 2026 onwards (no end date)
• Access Criteria: Any researcher with stated legitimate research intent will be able to access the anonymized date and supporting information upon submitting an email request to the PI.

Locations

US (1)