School-based Practices in Arts and Resilience for Kids (SPARK Study)
Wayne State University
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).
Description
Early life experiences impact development and have lasting effects on health and behavior. Negative childhood experiences (adversity, trauma; e.g., caregiver neglect or maltreatment, community violence, forced migration, discrimination, and harassment, increase the risk for negative mental health outcomes across the lifespan. These negative mental health outcomes include, but are not limited to, posttraumatic stress, anxiety, depression, pain, psychosis, suicidality, and other variation in variation in cognition and emotions. Negative childhood experiences, resultant physical and mental health…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 11–14 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Ages 11-14 years, inclusive. 2. Any gender identity or sex assigned at birth. 3. English-speaking, given that study interventions and assessments will be in English. 4. Ability to provide written informed assent or oral assent. 5. Caregiver ability to provide informed consent and ability to assist in completing study. 6. Student enrolled in collaborating school. Note: here, we define 'caregiver' as the participant's parent and/or legal guardian. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Current or past bipolar I/II disorder 2. Current or past psychotic disorder 3. Autism spectrum disor…
Interventions
- BehavioralArt Therapy
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.
- BehavioralYoga/Mindfulness
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.
Locations (2)
- Chandler Park Academy Middle SchoolHarper Woods, Michigan
- Jefferson Middle SchoolSaint Clair Shores, Michigan