Development and Testing of imHere4U: A Digital Suicide Prevention Intervention for Cyberbullied Adolescents
University of Pittsburgh
Summary
The objective of this study is to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of Flourish (formerly referred to as imHere4U), a digital suicide prevention intervention for cyberbullied adolescents. The specific aims are to: Aim #1: Conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing Flourish+Questionnaires vs. Questionnaires Alone among cyberbullied youth at-risk for suicide ages 12-17 (N=80, \>35% underserved youth). H2a. Primary outcome: Feasibility will be evidenced by recruitment/retention rates \> 80% and imHere4U engagement \> 70%. H2b. Secondary outcomes: Youth assigned to Flourish+Questionnaires will report improved problem-solving capacity, distress tolerance, and motivation and reduced distress and suicidal ideation than youth assigned to Questionnaires Alone over the 6-month follow-up period. Exploratory Aim: Examine the feasibility of delivering feedback on online interactions from machine learning algorithms. All youth assigned to Flourish may optionally provide their social media data to receive feedback from machine learning algorithms. H3a. Feedback from algorithms will have high acceptability (identified via qualitative themes and \>70% acceptance rates) and usability, defined by mean scores on Post-Study System and Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ) \> 6.
Description
Assessment Visits: As part of this study, adolescents will participate in four assessment visits at baseline and 4, 12, and 24 weeks following onboarding to the study intervention. Assessments cover a range of topics including mood, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and social media use and experience. At the time of the baseline visit, youth will be selected to receive either Flourish+Questionnaires (intervention condition) or Questionnaires Alone (control condition). Selection will occur through randomization, referring essentially to asking a computer to "flip a coin" to decide whi…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 12–17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * English-speaking * access to a phone or device capable of text messaging * past 3-month history of cyberbullying assessed by the cybervictimization subscale of the Traditional Bullying and Cyberbullying Victimization and Perpetration Scale and/or presence of online discrimination measured by a modified version of a discrimination measured developed as part of the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study * past 3-month history of suicidal risk, including: psychological distress (\>13 on the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) and/or suicidal ideati…
Interventions
- BehavioralFlourish
Flourish is a text messaging program that aims to improve coping following cyberbullying and reduce suicide risk among youth.
- BehavioralQuestionnaires of Online Experiences
Adolescents will receive brief questionnaires related to their online experiences and the impact those experiences have had on their stress level.
Location
- University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburgh, Pennsylvania