Web-based Single-session Growth Mindset Intervention for Adolescent Anxiety
Condition: Anxiety Generalized
MeSH terms: Anxiety Disorders
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide. In Hong Kong, 7% of
      adolescents are diagnosed with anxiety disorders, and one in every four secondary school
      students reports clinical-level anxiety symptoms. However, 65% of them do not access
      services. Long waitlists in public services, the high cost of private services, or the fear
      of being stigmatized can hinder service access. The high prevalence of anxiety and low
      intervention uptake indicate a pressing need to develop timely, scalable, and potent
      interventions suitable for adolescents. Single-session interventions (SSIs) have the
      potential to be scalable interventions for diagnosable or subclinical psychopathology in
      adolescents. Providing precise and context-adapted intervention is the key to achieving
      intervention efficacy. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of four SSIs:
      Single-session Intervention of Growth Mindset for Anxiety (SIGMA), SIGMA with booster
      messages, SSI of Growth mindset of Personality (SSI-GP), and active control using support
      therapy (ST), in reducing adolescent anxiety. Adolescents (N=731, aged 12-20) from secondary
      schools have been randomized to one of the four intervention conditions: the SIGMA,
      SIGMA-BOOSTER, SSI-GP, or active control. The implementation of each intervention is
      approximately 45 minutes in length. Adolescent participants reported anxiety symptoms,
      depression symptoms, and suicidal/self-hurting thoughts (primary outcomes); perceived
      control, hopelessness, attitude toward help-seeking and psychological well-being (secondary
      outcomes) at pre-intervention, the 2-week and 8-week follow-up. A pilot test has confirmed
      the feasibility and acceptability of SIGMA among adolescents. We hypothesized that SIGMA
      (including SIGMA and SIGMA-BOOSTER) and SSI-GP will result in a larger reduction in anxiety
      symptoms than the control intervention. We also predict SIGMA (including SIGMA and
      SIGMA-BOOSTER) will be more effective than SSI-GP. We will use the intention-to-treat
      principle and generalised estimating equation models for data analysis. This study was
      conducted from December 2022 to June 2023, with results expected to be available by March
      2024. This protocol introduces the implementation content and strategies of growth mindset
      SSIs among school students. The study will provide evidence on the efficacy of different
      growth mindset SSIs for adolescent anxiety. It will also establish implementation strategies
      for self-administrative SSIs among school students, which can serve as a pioneer
      implementation of a scalable and self-accessible brief intervention to improve the well-being
      of young people.
    


Intervention name(s): Web-based single-session growth mindset intervention for adolescent anxiety
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): This proposed study uses a four-arm, parallel group, cluster randomized controlled trial design to evaluate the efficacy of SIGMA compared to a web-based growth mindset SSI (SSI-GP) and an active web-based control programme. The concurrent parallel group structure assures that the different groups take part in their respective intervention at the same time.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Prevention