Proud & Empowered Program for Bullying in LGBTQ Youth

Recruiting at 21 trial locations

Overseen By John G Senese IV, MSW

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine

Disqualifiers: Not LGBTQ student

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: Unknown

450 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Efficacy of a Multi-level School Intervention for LGBTQ Youth

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

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

What data supports the effectiveness of the Proud & Empowered treatment for bullying in LGBTQ youth?

The research highlights the need for interventions that engage school health professionals to address bullying of LGBTQ youth, suggesting that treatments like Proud & Empowered could be effective by improving communication and response skills among these professionals. Additionally, creating positive school climates through multilevel interventions has been shown to support the safety and well-being of LGBTQ students, which aligns with the goals of the Proud & Empowered treatment. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the Proud & Empowered treatment different from other treatments for bullying in LGBTQ youth?

The Proud & Empowered treatment is unique because it specifically addresses the diverse and complex experiences of bullying faced by LGBTQ youth, which are often not covered by standard anti-bullying programs. It focuses on creating a supportive environment through interventions like Gay-Straight Alliances and inclusive policies, which have been shown to reduce bias-based bullying and improve social support in schools. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Research Team

Jeremy Goldbach, PhD

Principal Investigator

Washington University School of Medicine

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for LGBTQ students in one of 24 selected high schools. It's designed to help those who might be dealing with substance use, stress from trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, bullying or thoughts of suicide.

Inclusion Criteria

LGBTQ student in one of 24 high schools

Exclusion Criteria

Not meeting inclusion criteria

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive the Proud & Empowered intervention and Make Space school climate intervention

12 weeks

Ongoing school-based activities

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in minority stress, PTSD, anxiety, depression, coping strategies, substance use, and bullying experiences

12 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Proud & Empowered

Trial Overview The 'Proud & Empowered' program is being tested to see if it can improve coping behaviors and mental health among LGBTQ youth facing various challenges like harassment and substance abuse.

Participant Groups

Group I: Intervention schools Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Schools will be assigned to either intervention or control schools. Students in intervention schools will receive the intervention in semester 1.

Group II: Control schools Active Control 1 Intervention

Students in control schools will receive no intervention

Proud & Empowered is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Proud & Empowered for:

• Reducing minority stress among LGBTQ+ youth
• Improving mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ adolescents

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Washington University School of Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,027

Recruited

2,353,000+

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Collaborator

Trials

473

Recruited

1,374,000+

University of Southern California

Collaborator

Trials

956

Recruited

1,609,000+

Findings from Research

A mixed-methods study involving 28 LGBTQ students and 19 school health professionals in Massachusetts identified key factors that affect how effectively these professionals report and respond to bullying of LGBTQ youth, highlighting the need for innovative strategies to address this issue.

Both students and school health professionals noted that barriers to addressing LGBTQ bullying include fears of confidentiality breaches and a lack of school support, while facilitators include strong relationships and supportive school cultures, emphasizing the importance of an intersectional approach in interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Addressing LGBTQ Student Bullying in Massachusetts Schools: Perspectives of LGBTQ Students and School Health Professionals. Reisner, SL., Sava, LM., Menino, DD., et al.[2023]

LGBTQ students experience significant bullying, including verbal, social, and physical harassment, while school health professionals (SHPs) often have minimal awareness of these issues, indicating a disconnect in perceptions.

Transgender students face specific bullying related to their gender identity, and LGBTQ students of color encounter additional challenges based on race/ethnicity, highlighting the need for improved communication and training for SHPs to effectively address these bullying incidents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

LGBTQ bullying: a qualitative investigation of student and school health professional perspectives. Earnshaw, VA., Menino, DD., Sava, LM., et al.[2021]

A study involving 20 sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) aged 14-18 revealed six common experiences of bullying, including verbal harassment, gender policing, physical violence, sexual harassment, being treated as sexual deviants, and social exclusion.

The findings suggest that bullying experiences for SGMY are distinct from those of heterosexual and cisgender youth, highlighting the need for tailored anti-bullying interventions that address these specific forms of victimization.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"Words Aren't Supposed to Hurt, But They Do": Sexual and Gender Minority Youth's Bullying Experiences. Henderson, ER., Sang, JM., Louth-Marquez, W., et al.[2023]

A study analyzing data from 24,845 heterosexual and 1,127 LGB adolescents in Massachusetts from 1999 to 2013 found that while bullying and violence-related experiences decreased for heterosexual youth and gay males, disparities between LGB and heterosexual peers persisted.

Improvements in school safety were more pronounced for heterosexual youth and gay males, with bisexual and lesbian females showing limited progress, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address ongoing disparities in school victimization.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sexual Orientation Trends and Disparities in School Bullying and Violence-Related Experiences, 1999-2013. Goodenow, C., Watson, RJ., Adjei, J., et al.[2022]

A qualitative study involving 16 key informants highlighted that both distal factors, like LGBT-affirmative legislation, and proximal factors, such as interpersonal interactions, significantly influence school climates and the prevalence of bullying against LGBT youth.

To effectively combat bullying and promote positive school climates, participants recommended comprehensive interventions that address multiple levels of school social ecologies, including training for teachers, peer support programs, and the implementation of LGBT-inclusive policies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Promoting a positive school climate for sexual and gender minority youth through a systems approach: A theory-informed qualitative study. Fantus, S., Newman, PA.[2021]

The presence of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) in schools is linked to increased support from classmates, while LGBTQ-focused policies lead to greater support from teachers, highlighting the importance of both types of support.

When both GSAs and LGBTQ-focused policies are implemented together, schools experience reduced bullying and enhanced overall support for LGBTQ youth, indicating that these initiatives work best in tandem to create a safer school environment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gay-Straight Alliances, Inclusive Policy, and School Climate: LGBTQ Youths' Experiences of Social Support and Bullying. Day, JK., Fish, JN., Grossman, AH., et al.[2021]

A study involving 17,112 diverse sexual and gender minority adolescents found that schools with gay-straight alliances (GSAs) reported lower levels of bias-based bullying related to various stigmatized identities, including body weight and sexuality.

The presence of GSAs was associated with increased perceived school safety, better academic performance (higher grades), and fewer school suspensions, highlighting their effectiveness in reducing stigma and supporting school adjustment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bias-Based Bullying and School Adjustment among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents: The Role of Gay-Straight Alliances. Lessard, LM., Watson, RJ., Puhl, RM.[2020]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Addressing LGBTQ Student Bullying in Massachusetts Schools: Perspectives of LGBTQ Students and School Health Professionals. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

LGBTQ bullying: a qualitative investigation of student and school health professional perspectives. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"Words Aren't Supposed to Hurt, But They Do": Sexual and Gender Minority Youth's Bullying Experiences. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sexual Orientation Trends and Disparities in School Bullying and Violence-Related Experiences, 1999-2013. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Promoting a positive school climate for sexual and gender minority youth through a systems approach: A theory-informed qualitative study. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gay-Straight Alliances, Inclusive Policy, and School Climate: LGBTQ Youths' Experiences of Social Support and Bullying. [2021]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bias-Based Bullying and School Adjustment among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents: The Role of Gay-Straight Alliances. [2020]