Proud & Empowered Program for Bullying in LGBTQ Youth

No longer 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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a program called Proud & Empowered to determine its effectiveness in reducing bullying among LGBTQ students in schools. Some schools will implement the program, while others will not, serving as a comparison. LGBTQ students attending one of 24 specific high schools may be eligible to join this trial. As an unphased trial, it provides a unique opportunity to contribute to important research that could enhance school environments for LGBTQ students.

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 prior data suggests that the Proud & Empowered program is safe for LGBTQ youth?

Research on the Proud & Empowered program has not identified any safety concerns for participants. This school-based initiative supports LGBTQ youth by addressing bullying and mental health issues. It focuses on creating a supportive environment, which studies generally consider safe and helpful for students.

No reports of negative effects or harm have been linked to this program in existing studies. As an educational and support program, not a medical treatment, it typically carries low risks. The program aims to improve well-being without medication or physical procedures, enhancing its safety.

In summary, Proud & Empowered is designed to provide a positive and safe experience for students, with no evidence suggesting otherwise in current research. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Proud & Empowered Program because it specifically targets bullying among LGBTQ youth, a group often overlooked by standard anti-bullying programs. Unlike typical interventions that are generic and not tailored to specific communities, this program is designed to address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ students. By focusing on empowerment and pride, it aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment in schools, which could lead to better mental health outcomes for these students.

What evidence suggests that the Proud & Empowered program is effective for bullying in LGBTQ youth?

Research has shown that the Proud & Empowered program improves mental health among LGBTQ youth by addressing bullying and family rejection. In this trial, some schools will serve as intervention schools, where students will receive the Proud & Empowered program in semester 1. Studies suggest that schools can significantly reduce bullying and support mental health. The program aims to create a supportive school environment, which has been shown to lower stress caused by bullying. Initial findings indicate that programs like Proud & Empowered effectively help LGBTQ youth by making schools safer and more accepting. This approach reduces the negative effects of bullying, such as mental health problems. ^{1 3 4 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jeremy Goldbach, PhD

Principal Investigator

Washington University School of Medicine

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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 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]

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]

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]

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]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8696968/

Reducing behavioral health symptoms by addressing minority ... ... bullying [15], and family rejection in adolescence [11, 12, 16] ... Proud & Empowered: An Intervention for Promoting LGBTQ Adolescent Mental Health ...

2. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/355191305_The_Development_of_Proud_Empowered_An_Intervention_for_Promoting_LGBTQ_Adolescent_Mental_Health

The Development of Proud & Empowered: An Intervention ... Schools are uniquely positioned to implement suicide prevention strategies, including anti-bullying ... Conclusions Results suggest that Proud & ...

3. proudandempowered.com proudandempowered.com/research

Research - Proud & Empowered Below is a summary of our current peer-reviewed publications and information about the grants that support this project.

4. youtube.com youtube.com/watch?v=MDDpEJOfhfY

Proud & Empowered: A School-Based Intervention for ... Proud & Empowered: A School-Based Intervention for LGBTQ+ Youth ... Healing School Communities in the Context of Faith-Based Bullying: Session 2.

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9662773/

Social support in schools and related outcomes for LGBTQ ... Social and parental support as moderators of the effects of homophobic bullying on psychological distress in youth. ... LGBTQ bullying and harassment in Seattle ...

6. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10553179

Efficacy of a Multi-level School Intervention for LGBTQ Youth When schools lack SGM bullying policies, SGM students are more likely to report suicidality than peers in schools with protective policies. Studies also ...