BullyDown Program for Bullying Prevention

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Center for Innovative Public Health Research

Disqualifiers: Non-English speakers, Unable to read, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

150 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a program designed to prevent bullying, particularly in middle school settings where attendance can be physical or virtual. The goal is to deliver anti-bullying strategies to students nationwide more effectively and quickly. Participants will either experience the new BullyDown program or join a group focused on healthy lifestyle habits for comparison. Ideal participants are 7th or 8th graders who speak English, have their own cell phone, and access the internet at home. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the opportunity to contribute to innovative solutions that could significantly improve school environments nationwide.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the BullyDown program is safe for middle school youth?

Research shows that BullyDown, a program delivered through text messages, is easy to use and popular among participants. In one study, all young participants completed a follow-up survey, and 86% reported enjoying the program. This indicates that BullyDown is well-received by young users. Studies reported no negative effects, suggesting it is safe for middle school students. Students can use BullyDown at school or home, making its benefits easily accessible. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

The BullyDown program is unique because it aims to prevent bullying by focusing on intervention strategies rather than traditional methods like counseling or punitive measures. Researchers are excited about this approach as it emphasizes proactive prevention techniques that can be implemented in schools and communities, potentially reducing the incidence of bullying from the start. Unlike other strategies that often react to bullying after it occurs, BullyDown seeks to address the root causes and create a supportive environment that discourages bullying behavior in the first place.

What evidence suggests that the BullyDown program is effective for bullying prevention?

Research has shown that programs focused on social and emotional learning, such as BullyDown, can reduce bullying and disruptive behavior in middle schools. These programs improve students' social and emotional skills. In this trial, participants will either receive the BullyDown intervention or join a healthy lifestyle control group. Early tests of BullyDown indicated that the program is practical and popular among students. Specifically, all participants completed a follow-up survey, and 86% reported liking the program. These early results suggest that BullyDown could effectively prevent bullying. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking 7th or 8th graders who have their own cell phone and home internet. They must be able to provide informed assent. It's not for those who can't read the screener, know someone else in the trial, or don't have an unlimited text messaging plan.

Inclusion Criteria

You are in the seventh or eighth grade of schooling.

English speaking

You have provided your informed consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria

Unable to read the screener

Know someone else in the RCT

I do not have an unlimited text messaging plan.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive the BullyDown text messaging-based bullying prevention program

8 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in behavior and program effectiveness

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• BullyDown

Trial Overview BullyDown is a bullying prevention program delivered via text messages to middle school students. The study compares BullyDown with an attention-matched control group to see which is more effective at preventing bullying.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: BullyDown intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Healthy lifestyle control Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Center for Innovative Public Health Research

Lead Sponsor

Trials

11

Recruited

8,100+

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Collaborator

Trials

1,588

Recruited

4,364,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4923590/

Stepwise Development of a Text Messaging-Based ... SEL-based programs have reported positive results in terms of reducing bullying and other disruptive behaviors in middle school [34,52,53]. As ...

2. trial.medpath.com trial.medpath.com/clinical-trial/4470ae74abb33828/nct06017050-bullydown-text-messaging-bullying-prevention

BullyDown, a Text Messaging-based Bullying Prevention ... The Effect of School-Based Bullying Prevention Program on Bullying Victimization, Tendencies and Future Expectations of Adolescents ... Outcome data and ...

3. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/326562998_Stepwise_Development_of_BullyDown_a_Text_Messaging-Based_Bullying_Prevention_Program_for_Middle_School_Students_Preprint

Stepwise Development of BullyDown, a Text Messaging ... Beta test findings suggest that BullyDown is both feasible and acceptable: 100% of youth completed the follow-up survey, 86% of whom liked the program.

4. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/bullydown-program-for-bullying-prevention-19b26

BullyDown Program for Bullying Prevention The study compares BullyDown with an attention-matched control group to see which is more effective at preventing bullying. How Is the Trial Designed? 2 ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5363950/

The Effectiveness of Policy Interventions for School Bullying Although anti-bullying policies are prevalent, little is known about their effectiveness. This systematic review evaluates the methodological characteristics ...

6. formative.jmir.org formative.jmir.org/2022/8/e40022

Posttraining Outcomes, Acceptability, and Technology-Based ... This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the STAC teacher module in increasing knowledge and bullying self-efficacy and provides support for developing the ...

7. compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/soc4.12537

Who runs away from home and why? How families, schools ... Ybarra, Prescott, and Espelage (2016) test the effects of BullyDown, a text messaging-based bullying prevention program. They find that ...

8. aging.networkofcare.org aging.networkofcare.org/sanmateo/CommunityResources/ClinicalTrials/Detail/NCT06017050?keyword=%22Bullying%22

BullyDown, a Text Messaging-based Bullying Prevention ... BullyDown addresses this critical need by providing a scalable program that could be quickly and cost-effectively disseminated nationally. Criteria: Source: ...