200 Participants Needed

Social Support for Stress in Children and Adolescents

BD
Overseen ByBonny Donzella
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this experiment is to determine the mechanisms through which parental buffering of stress physiology during aversive conditioning diminishes with pubertal development and whether this diminution of effectiveness extends to social buffering by peers (best friends) and/or other unfamiliar social partners (e.g., experimenters).

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If you are taking systemic glucocorticoids or beta-adrenergic medications, you cannot participate in this trial. The protocol does not specify about other medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Social Buffering for stress in children and adolescents?

Research shows that social support, a key part of Social Buffering, can help reduce stress by affecting the body's stress response system, especially in children. Studies indicate that support from parents and peers can lower stress and improve mental health, suggesting that Social Buffering may be effective in managing stress in young people.12345

How does the treatment of social support for stress in children and adolescents differ from other treatments?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on providing social support from parents, peers, and classmates to help reduce stress and internalizing problems in children and adolescents. Unlike traditional treatments that might involve medication or therapy, this approach leverages the natural support systems around the child to buffer against stress and improve mental health outcomes.12346

Research Team

MG

Megan Gunnar, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Minnesota

KT

Kathleen Thomas, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Minnesota

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adolescents with normal hearing, vision, and language skills. It's not for those with autism, tattoos that interfere with MRI scans, severe claustrophobia, certain medications like beta-blockers or glucocorticoids, psychiatric or neurological disorders, serious medical conditions like cancer or organ transplants, pregnancy, congenital/chromosomal disorders (e.g., Down Syndrome), or metal implants/piercings/braces.

Inclusion Criteria

Sufficient hearing to complete assent and study procedures
Sufficient language skills to provide verbal and written assent
Sufficient vision to complete assent and study procedures

Exclusion Criteria

Premature birth (less than 37 weeks)
Known pregnancy
Autism Spectrum Disorders
See 8 more

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 visit
1 visit (in-person)

Initial Assessment

Participants undergo a pubertal assessment exam, complete questionnaires, and experience a simulated MRI

1 visit
1 visit (in-person)

Conditioning and MRI

Participants undergo MRI safety screening and complete aversive conditioning paradigms with different social partners

2 hours
1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the conditioning session

2 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Social Buffering
Trial OverviewThe study aims to understand how parental support helps reduce stress in teenagers during scary situations and if this changes as they grow up. It also looks at whether friends or strangers can provide similar comfort. Participants will answer questionnaires and undergo MRI scans.
Participant Groups
4Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Primary ParentExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of 4 conditions that differ by who is with them in the MRI scanner room: Primary Parent, Close Friend, Experimenter, No Social Partner.
Group II: No Social PartnerExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of 4 conditions that differ by who is with them in the MRI scanner room: Primary Parent, Close Friend, Experimenter, No Social Partner.
Group III: ExperimenterExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of 4 conditions that differ by who is with them in the MRI scanner room: Primary Parent, Close Friend, Experimenter, No Social Partner.
Group IV: Close FriendExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of 4 conditions that differ by who is with them in the MRI scanner room: Primary Parent, Close Friend, Experimenter, No Social Partner.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Minnesota

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,459
Recruited
1,623,000+

Findings from Research

Social support from various sources, including mothers, fathers, classmates, and close friends, generally benefits early adolescents in reducing internalizing problems, as shown in a study of 364 middle school students.
Mother support can help mitigate the negative effects of low classmate support for both boys and girls, while father support specifically helps boys when classmate support is lacking, highlighting the importance of different support sources in adolescent mental health.
Parent and peer social support compensation and internalizing problems in adolescence.Lyell, KM., Coyle, S., Malecki, CK., et al.[2021]
In a study of 1888 children, both supportive parenting and peer victimization independently influenced depressive symptoms and negative thoughts, indicating that parental support plays a crucial role in children's mental health.
While supportive parenting did not buffer against the negative effects of peer victimization, it still had a significant main effect that could help mitigate some of the adverse outcomes associated with stress from peer victimization.
Does supportive parenting mitigate the longitudinal effects of peer victimization on depressive thoughts and symptoms in children?Bilsky, SA., Cole, DA., Dukewich, TL., et al.[2021]
Social support, particularly from parents, plays a crucial role in shaping the stress response system (HPA axis) in early childhood, which is a critical period for development.
The review highlights that social buffering can be effective not only during acute stress but also in chronic stress situations, suggesting that interventions aimed at enhancing social support could positively influence HPA axis functioning in children, especially those in the child welfare system.
The role of social buffering on chronic disruptions in quality of care: evidence from caregiver-based interventions in foster children.Flannery, JE., Beauchamp, KG., Fisher, PA.[2019]

References

Parent and peer social support compensation and internalizing problems in adolescence. [2021]
Does supportive parenting mitigate the longitudinal effects of peer victimization on depressive thoughts and symptoms in children? [2021]
The role of social buffering on chronic disruptions in quality of care: evidence from caregiver-based interventions in foster children. [2019]
The social buffering of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis in humans: Developmental and experiential determinants. [2023]
A meta-analytic review of the association between perceived social support and depression in childhood and adolescence. [2022]
Life stress, social support and psychological distress in late adolescence. [2019]