School-based Practices in Arts and Resilience for Kids

What this study is about

This proposal will implement and test feasibility and efficacy of school-based art therapy and yoga/mindfulness programming to reduce mental health disparities and foster resilience in youth. We will conduct a cross-over randomized trial with n=250 youth (any race/ethnicity or gender, ages 11-14) from two schools: one serving majority Black/African American students and one serving a population-representative ethnoracial demographic with 50% economically disadvantaged students. Baseline data collection will assess experiences of discrimination, negative experiences, positive experiences, and severity of posttraumatic stress, anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, and resilience. Youth will be randomly assigned to art therapy or yoga/mindfulness for a quarter. Hour-long weekly sessions will occur during elective course times within school to bolster accessibility and generate data to inform future school-based care models for sustainability. Target schools co-developed this design with the research team. At the end of the quarter, participants will engage in post-intervention data collection, including qualitative interviews regarding their experience with the school-based programming. Participants will then cross over to the yoga/mindfulness or art therapy for the subsequent quarter, such that all participants receive both modalities. The methods described above will be repeated, including the assessments. Academic performance will be assessed throughout. We hypothesize that both modalities will be effective in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression related to discrimination, adversity, and trauma that disproportionately impacts racially and ethnically minoritized youth. We anticipate that qualitative feedback will identify points of optimization for programming and inform which students may be most responsive to what intervention(s).

Who can join (things the study team will check)

✅ You may be able to join if…

• Ages 11-14 years, inclusive.
• Any gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
• English-speaking, given that study interventions and assessments will be in English.
• Ability to provide written informed assent or oral assent.
• Caregiver ability to provide informed consent and ability to assist in completing study.
• Student enrolled in collaborating school. Note: here, we define 'caregiver' as the participant's parent and/or legal guardian.

🚫 You may not be able to join if…

• Current or past bipolar I/II disorder
• Current or past psychotic disorder
• Autism spectrum disorders or any other severe developmental disorder

Where this trial is running

• Chandler Park Academy Middle School, Harper Woods, Michigan, United States
• Jefferson Middle School, Saint Clair Shores, Michigan, United States

Who to contact

Lana R Grasser, Ph.D. · 313-389-1777 · lgrasser@med.wayne.edu

It's completely normal to call and ask questions before deciding anything. Mention the study ID: NCT06945497.