Racial-Ethnic Socialization Intervention for Family Mental Health

(OTAAT Trial)

Overseen By Gabriela Livas Stein, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Greensboro

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

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

312 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how an online video program can help parents discuss race and ethnicity with their children. The program, called One Talk at a Time (OTAAT), aims to boost parents' confidence and skills for these important conversations. It also examines whether these discussions can help children cope with discrimination and improve their mental and academic well-being. Parents with a child aged 11 to 13 who identify as East Asian, African American, or Latinx (Central American) may be suitable for this study. As an unphased study, this trial offers a unique opportunity for parents to contribute to research that could enhance family communication and understanding.

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 this intervention is safe for family mental health?

Research has shown that the One Talk at a Time (OTAAT) program helps parents discuss race and discrimination with their children. Several studies have tested this video-based program, revealing promising results in enhancing communication skills and boosting confidence for these crucial conversations.

Regarding safety, OTAAT is an educational program, not a drug or medical device, so there are no concerns about side effects or adverse reactions. The program provides educational content to facilitate better conversations between parents and children. Generally, this type of program poses no physical risks to participants. Overall, evidence suggests that OTAAT is a well-accepted method for improving family discussions about racial and ethnic topics. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the "One Talk at a Time: Race" intervention because it offers a unique approach to improving family mental health through racial-ethnic socialization. Unlike traditional mental health treatments that might focus on individual therapy or medication, this intervention emphasizes open communication within families, helping parents and children discuss race and identity in a supportive environment. This method aims to empower families to tackle difficult conversations, potentially reducing stress and improving overall family dynamics. By fostering these important dialogues, the intervention could enhance resilience and understanding, offering a fresh and culturally sensitive strategy for supporting mental well-being.

What evidence suggests that this trial's interventions could be effective for family mental health?

Research shows that the One Talk at a Time (OTAAT) video program, one of the interventions in this trial, might improve family mental health. Studies indicate that teaching children about their racial and cultural backgrounds can enhance mental health and school performance. Early results suggest that when parents are motivated and skilled in these discussions, their children feel more prepared to handle discrimination. Thus, OTAAT could boost children's confidence and strengthen their sense of identity. The program aims to enhance communication between parents and children, potentially leading to better coping skills and overall well-being for young people. Another group in this trial will receive a curriculum focused on tips and strategies for navigating difficult topics with children, such as current events and dating. ^{2 3 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Gabriela Livas Stein, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Texas at Austin

Lisa Kiang, PhD

Principal Investigator

Wake Forest University

Stephanie Coard, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of North Carolina, Greensboro

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for parents from the same pan-ethnic group with a child aged 11 to 13. It's specifically aimed at families where the parent identifies as East Asian, African American, or Latinx (Central American).

Inclusion Criteria

I am a parent of a child aged 11 to 13.

Both parents are from the same pan-ethnic group

Parental race/ethnicity must be either of East Asian, African American, or Latinx (Central American) background

Exclusion Criteria

N/A

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive the One Talk at a Time (OTAAT) intervention or control materials. The intervention consists of 11 videos and takes approximately 1.5-2 hours to complete online.

1 month

Online delivery

Follow-up

Participants are monitored at 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month intervals with surveys and observational tasks to assess various psychosocial outcomes.

12 months

4 follow-up assessments (online and optional in-person)

Maintenance

Participants receive 6 additional OTAAT contacts via text messages/newsletters spread out across the year to reinforce skills and set times for RES conversations.

10 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• One Talk at a Time: General
• One Talk at a Time: Race

Trial Overview The study tests an online video-based intervention called 'One Talk at a Time' against a control group over one year. It aims to improve parental engagement in racial-ethnic socialization and enhance youth coping with discrimination and their mental and academic outcomes.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: OTAAT Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This group will receive the One Talk at a Time curriculum.

Group II: Parent-Child Communication Active Control 1 Intervention

This group will receive a curriculum focused on tips and strategies for navigating difficult topics with one's children such as current events and dating.

One Talk at a Time: Race is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as One Talk at a Time for:

• Racial-ethnic socialization intervention for diverse families

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of North Carolina, Greensboro

Lead Sponsor

Trials

33

Recruited

16,700+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Suicide rates among youth of color are highest before age 30, and existing prevention strategies often overlook the role of structural racism in creating disparities in mental health service access and effectiveness.

The authors propose a new framework that highlights how structural racism affects suicide prevention across mental health services, schools, and crisis care, and they recommend comprehensive interventions to address these systemic issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Structural Racism and Suicide Prevention for Ethnoracially Minoritized Youth: A Conceptual Framework and Illustration Across Systems. Alvarez, K., Polanco-Roman, L., Samuel Breslow, A., et al.[2022]

The culturally adapted Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training significantly improved mental health literacy and confidence in using mental health first aid skills among 31 Asian immigrant parents and 24 Asian American youth workers.

Participants reported positive experiences with the training and suggested further cultural adaptations, indicating that this tailored approach may effectively engage Asian Americans in seeking mental health services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Culturally adapting youth mental health first aid training for Asian Americans. Wang, C., Liu, JL., Marsico, KF., et al.[2022]

The EMBRace racial socialization intervention, conducted over five weeks, showed promising results in enhancing coping strategies for Black American families, leading to reduced psychosocial problems in adolescents despite ongoing racial stress.

This case study suggests that racial socialization can be a beneficial therapeutic approach, indicating the need for further research with larger samples to explore its effectiveness and implications for policy and program development.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Black American Youth and Families: A Case Study from the EMBRace Intervention. Anderson, RE., Jones, SCT., Navarro, CC., et al.[2022]

Current measures of engagement in mental health services do not adequately consider culturally specific factors that affect how ethnic minority and immigrant families interact with these services, highlighting a significant gap in existing tools.

The review of 119 instruments reveals that while there are various tools to measure engagement, they often fall short in addressing the unique needs of these families, suggesting a need for new methodologies and practical applications to improve service delivery and reduce disparities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Conceptualizing Culturally Infused Engagement and Its Measurement for Ethnic Minority and Immigrant Children and Families. Yasui, M., Pottick, KJ., Chen, Y.[2023]

The article highlights significant health disparities in mental health care for African American youth, emphasizing the need for innovative interventions to improve their access to psychiatric services.

An evidence-based intervention has been developed to enhance family engagement in mental health treatment for depressed African American adolescents, aiming to address their unique cultural needs and improve participation in psychiatric care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Family first: the development of an evidence-based family intervention for increasing participation in psychiatric clinical care and research in depressed African American adolescents. Breland-Noble, AM., Bell, C., Nicolas, G.[2022]

The study aims to develop and evaluate a culturally informed Family Motivational Engagement Strategy (FAMES) to improve family engagement in coordinated specialty care (CSC) programs for first episode psychosis, particularly among racial and ethnic minority families.

The research will involve a multi-phase approach, including a survey of approximately 200 family members to identify barriers to engagement, followed by a 3-month trial and a 16-month non-randomized trial with 50 family members to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the FAMES toolkit.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developing and implementing a culturally informed FAmily Motivational Engagement Strategy (FAMES) to increase family engagement in first episode psychosis programs: mixed methods pilot study protocol. Oluwoye, O., Dyck, D., McPherson, SM., et al.[2021]

A systematic review of 1264 studies identified 10 that effectively targeted mental health treatment engagement among underserved racial-ethnic minority young adults, highlighting a significant gap in research for this population.

Interventions that were family-based or culturally adapted showed promising results, suggesting that incorporating family support and cultural context is crucial for improving engagement in mental health services for young adults aged 13 to 27.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mental Health Service Engagement Among Underserved Minority Adolescents and Young Adults: a Systematic Review. Moore, KL.[2021]

Citations

1. centerwatch.com centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/listings/NCT05454293/one-talk-at-a-time-a-racial-ethnic-socialization-intervention-for-diverse-families

One Talk at a Time: A Racial-ethnic Socialization ... This study is a randomized effectiveness trial that tests the online delivery of a video-based intervention (One Talk at a Time (OTAAT)) ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-ethnic-racial-socialization-6-2022-a26bd

Racial-Ethnic Socialization Intervention for Family Mental Health This study is a randomized effectiveness trial that tests the online delivery of a video-based intervention (One Talk at a Time (OTAAT)) relative to a ...

3. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/356801606_One_talk_at_a_time_Developing_an_ethnic-racial_socialization_intervention_for_Black_Latinx_and_Asian_American_families

Developing an ethnic‐racial socialization intervention for ... Ethnic‐racial socialization (ERS) can promote positive outcomes in minoritized youth, but parents often face challenges in effectively engaging in these ...

4. srcd.secure-platform.com srcd.secure-platform.com/site/solicitations/102003/sessiongallery/94022/application/4282

Application One Talk at a Time: Engaging Asian American Parents in an Racial Ethnic Socialization Intervention ... mental health outcomes. We present engagement data ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3941842/

Race-Ethnicity and Culture in the Family and Youth Outcomes This study examined the interplay of parental racial-ethnic socialization and youth multidimensional cultural orientations

6. spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/josi.12482

One talk at a time: Developing an ethnic‐racial socialization ... Ethnic-racial socialization (ERS) can promote positive outcomes in minoritized youth, but parents often face challenges in effectively ...

7. libres.uncg.edu libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/L_Gonzalez_One_2021.pdf

Developing an ethnic-racial socialization intervention for ... All data were collected in the southeastern U.S. between March 2019 and June 2020. One talk at a time. The OTAAT intervention was developed based on the ERS ...