Friend to Friend Program + Coaching for Aggression

Overseen By Brooke Paskewich, PsyD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Disqualifiers: Non-English speakers, Special education, Boys, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the effectiveness of the Friend to Friend (F2F) program when teachers and counselors deliver it with guidance from a research team. The program aims to assist 4th-5th grade girls who exhibit relational aggression, such as spreading rumors, and their classmates. The trial includes small group sessions for these girls and classroom sessions for all students. Girls who might benefit often face challenges like peer conflicts or difficulty maintaining friendships. The researchers seek schools in urban areas not currently offering anti-aggression programs for participation. As an unphased trial, this study provides schools with a unique opportunity to lead in implementing innovative solutions for relational aggression.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that the Friend to Friend (F2F) with Coaching program is safe?

Research has shown that the Friend to Friend (F2F) program with coaching is generally safe and well-received. This program aims to reduce behaviors like spreading rumors among children at higher risk. Studies have found it effectively lowers these behaviors without causing significant negative effects. As a behavioral program, it does not involve concerns about physical side effects. Participants have reported positive experiences, indicating it is a safe choice for those considering joining the program. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Friend to Friend (F2F) Program with Coaching because it offers a fresh approach to managing relational aggression in schools. Unlike traditional methods that typically involve referrals to school counselors, F2F is delivered by school personnel who receive specialized coaching from the study team. This unique method empowers school staff to directly engage with students, potentially leading to more immediate and relatable interventions. By integrating coaching into everyday school interactions, F2F aims to foster a more supportive and proactive environment for reducing aggression among girls and their classmates.

What evidence suggests that the Friend to Friend (F2F) with Coaching program is effective for reducing aggression?

Research has shown that the Friend to Friend (F2F) program, particularly when combined with coaching, reduces aggressive behavior in high-risk children. In this trial, some participants will receive the F2F with Coaching program, which has helped aggressive girls show less aggression. Participants also improved their social problem-solving skills, which is crucial for getting along with others. The program addresses bullying and aggressive behavior, leading to better emotional health and well-being for these children. Overall, these findings suggest that F2F with coaching positively impacts schools. ^{1 2 4 5 6}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for 4th-5th grade students in urban, predominantly minority schools in Philadelphia. It targets girls showing signs of relational aggression and includes their parents, teachers, and counselors. Special education students not in regular classes or those with language barriers are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

Predominately minority student body (> 80%)

My school meets the specific requirements for participation.

Teachers/counselors employed by the participating school sites who provide their verbal consent for participation.

Exclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria for Teachers/Counselors

My child in special education is not in regular classes.

Exclusion Criteria for Parents

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Friend to Friend program conducted by teachers and counselors with coaching from the research team, including 14 small group sessions and 8 classroom sessions

8 months

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in teacher-student relationships, hostile attribution biases, relational aggression, and other outcomes

8 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Friend to Friend (F2F) with Coaching

Trial Overview The Friend to Friend (F2F) program with Coaching is being tested to see if it helps reduce aggression among young girls. The study involves group sessions for the girls and classroom sessions involving all students, with pre- and post-program questionnaires.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Friend to Friend with Coaching Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Program for relationally aggressive girls and their classmates delivered by school personnel who have been coached by study team.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Referral to school counselor as needed as per standard practice.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

749

Recruited

11,400,000+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Three distinct developmental trajectories of aggression were identified in children from grades 1 to 3: early-onset/increasers, moderate-persistent, and stable low aggression, highlighting the varying patterns of aggressive behavior over time.

Factors such as being male, having attention deficit/hyperactivity issues, oppositional defiant problems, and experiencing negative life events were significant predictors for children following the early-onset/increasers trajectory, indicating a high risk for ongoing aggressive behavior.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Trajectories of peer-nominated aggression: risk status, predictors and outcomes. van Lier, PA., Crijnen, AA.[2019]

A new psychodiagnostic and intervention approach was developed to assess and address social aggressive behavior in children aged 9-11, involving about 700 participants, which helps identify the need for training and therapy interventions.

The approach effectively differentiates between various types of aggressive interactions in children, allowing for tailored training techniques to reduce inappropriate aggression and promote competent social behavior.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Intervention-oriented diagnosis of aggressiveness in children]. Zimmermann, VW.[2006]

Children's Friendship Training (CFT) has been shown to enhance friendship skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but this study emphasizes the importance of understanding parents' experiences during the program.

Through interviews with eight parents after 12 CFT sessions, four key themes emerged: fear and resistance, awareness and adjustment, the difficulty of change, and the need for support, highlighting that parental involvement and understanding their challenges are crucial for the program's effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parents' Experience in Children's Friendship Training Programme for Their Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Inquiry. Ong, SY., Roslan, S., Ahmad, NA., et al.[2021]

A study involving 60 older adults (average age 68.7 years) found that a peer-mentored exercise program was as effective as one led by young qualified student mentors, with both groups showing significant improvements in fitness over a 35-week program.

While both groups had similar retention rates, the group mentored by young students had higher participation, indicating that while peer mentoring is effective, younger mentors may encourage more consistent attendance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparing the effectiveness of peer mentoring and student mentoring in a 35-week fitness program for older adults. Dorgo, S., King, GA., Bader, JO., et al.[2021]

Parental Friendship Coaching (PFC) was evaluated in a study with 172 families of children aged 6-11 with ADHD, showing some improvements in children's friendship behaviors compared to an active comparison intervention.

While PFC did not significantly improve overall friendship quality for all participants, it may benefit specific at-risk groups, such as children with prior psychosocial treatment or comorbid externalizing disorders.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment of friendship problems in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Initial results from a randomized clinical trial. Mikami, AY., Normand, S., Hudec, KL., et al.[2021]

The Friend to Friend (F2F) aggression intervention significantly reduced relational aggression and improved social problem-solving skills among urban African American girls, as shown in a randomized clinical trial involving participants from six low-income elementary schools.

These positive effects were not only observed immediately after the intervention but were also maintained one year later, indicating the long-term efficacy of the F2F program in addressing aggression in this demographic.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Friend to Friend: A Randomized Trial for Urban African American Relationally Aggressive Girls. Leff, SS., Paskewich, BS., Waasdorp, TE., et al.[2023]

The attributional intervention significantly reduced aggressive boys' tendency to interpret ambiguous peer provocations as hostile, leading to less aggressive responses in both hypothetical scenarios and laboratory tasks.

Following the intervention, aggressive boys were rated as less aggressive by their teachers, indicating a positive change in behavior and perception after participating in the program.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An attributional intervention to reduce peer-directed aggression among African-American boys. Hudley, C., Graham, S.[2022]

The Friend to Friend (F2F) program effectively reduced relational aggression among urban ethnic minority girls, improving their social problem-solving skills and maintaining these effects for at least one year after treatment.

Beyond its primary target, the F2F program also positively influenced non-targeted boys and girls by increasing prosocial behaviors and enhancing teacher-student relationships, suggesting broader benefits of the intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Broader Impact of Friend to Friend (F2F): Effects on Teacher-Student Relationships, Prosocial Behaviors, and Relationally and Physically Aggressive Behaviors. Leff, SS., Waasdorp, TE., Paskewich, BS.[2023]

Structured peer mentoring in schools, where trained high school students support younger peers, is an effective way to encourage physical activity among adolescents, addressing the issue of inactivity despite national guidelines.

This method not only provides social support but also helps build skills and self-efficacy in younger students, promoting lifelong habits of physical activity and healthy eating.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Structured Peer-Mentoring Method for Physical Activity Behavior Change Among Adolescents. Smith, LH., Petosa, RL.[2019]

The PEERS® program, combined with the Circles curriculum, effectively improved social skills, friendship quality, and conversational skills in 10 college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities over an academic year.

Participants showed significant gains from pretest to posttest, indicating that structured social skills training can enhance interpersonal relationships for individuals with IDD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of PEERS® Social Skills Training on Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities During College. Rose, AJ., Kelley, KR., Raxter, A.[2021]

Citations

1. violence.chop.edu violence.chop.edu/friend-friend-reducing-relational-aggression-school-settings

Friend to Friend: Reducing Relational Aggression In School ... Friend to Friend (F2F) is a school-based intervention program designed to reduce aggression, with a focus on relational aggression, among high-risk children.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6042840/

The Broader Impact of Friend to Friend (F2F) The F2F program clearly addresses the limitations of other relational aggression ... She has particular expertise in bullying, relational aggression, and other ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6075838/

Friend to Friend: A Randomized Trial for Urban African ... Results suggest that aggressive girls in F2F decreased their levels of relational ... Effect of aggression and bullying on children and ...

4. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-aggression-10-2019-7c8e9

Friend to Friend Program + Coaching for Aggression The Friend to Friend (F2F) aggression intervention significantly reduced relational aggression and improved social problem-solving skills among urban African ...

5. aucd.org aucd.org/nirs-project?id=50259

School Aggression and Bullying Prevention Expected outcomes include: Friend to Friend with Coaching will significantly contribute to improving the social-emotional health and well-being of high-risk ...

6. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/232299/nih-r01-friend-to-friend-with-coaching/?&radius=10&place=Minatoga&user_country=Japan

NIH R01 Friend to Friend With Coaching Relatively large school with at least 2 classrooms per grade; School is not currently involved in a systematic anti-aggression or bullying ...