Our Voices Matter: Intervention for Depression in Youth
This study, "Our Voices Matter," is looking at how a program focused on racial justice activism might help Black and Latinx young people (ages 15-20) with depressive symptoms. It also looks at how this program might affect allostatic load (wear and tear on the body from stress) and metabolic syndrome (a group of conditions that increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes). You would either participate in the "Our Voices Matter" Racial Justice Activism Intervention, which teaches about activism and advocacy, or the "Adulting 101" program, which focuses on life skills. Researchers will measure depressive symptoms, metabolic syndrome, and blood pressure over two years to see if the activism program is helpful. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status and plans to enroll 300 participants.
- Study design
- This is a randomized study where 300 participants will be assigned by chance to one of two groups: the Racial Justice Activism Intervention or the Adulting 101 control group. It is a group-based behavioral clinical trial.
- What's involved
- You would participate in 5 half-day in-person sessions, followed by virtual small peer group meetings. Measurements will be taken at the start and then at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after the initial sessions.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Participants will be followed for 24 months (two years) after the initial 5-day intervention.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Our Voices Matter: Intervention for Depression in Youth
At a glance
Conditions
Where it's being run
1 sites across 1 statesStudy leadership
- Elan C Hope, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Policy Research Associates
Who to contact
Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.
What this trial measures
- Depressive Symptomsat baseline and then 0-1-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention
To evaluate depressive symptoms and overall depression, the investigators will use the following measurement tools: the Patient Questionnaire-9 \[PHQ-9\]. The investigators have chosen these metrics because these tools have been validated within our study population and the PHQ-9 is used in clinical practice. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is used in clinical practice to diagnose and manage depression and has a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 5 points on the PHQ-9 total score. The minimum is a score of 0 and the maximum is a score of 27, with higher scores indicating worse depressive symptoms. The scoring is as follows: Scores 0-4: None/minimal depression, 5-9: mild depression, 10-14: moderate depression, 15-19: moderately severe depression, 20-27: severe depression.
- Metabolic Syndromeat baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention
Biomarkers will be collected from these systems: cardiovascular (e.g., systolic and diastolic blood pressure (measured in mmHg), serum triglycerides (mg/dL) and HDL cholesterol (mg/dL), metabolic (e.g., glycosylated hemoglobin \[HbA1c-(mg/dL)\] , fasting glucose (mg/dL), waist circumference (cm), and insulin (U/ML). Will measure seated blood pressure, height (cm), weight (Kg), and waist circumference using the same protocols used in the HCHS/SOL Youth for rigor and reproducibility. To arrive at one reported value of metabolic syndrome, we will 1. a count of the number of signs that meet International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria, and 2. also create continuous metabolic risk score. To calculate this score, each biomarker will have values standardized into a z-score, then sum the z-scores, (Before transformation waist circumference will be normed for age, sex, and race using nationally representative data from NHANES.)
- Blood Pressureat baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention
The investigators will measure systolic and diastolic blood pressure (measured in mmHg) using a size-appropriate blood pressure cuff.
- Triglyceridesat baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention
The investigators will measure serum triglycerides (mg/dL) as a component of lipid markers.
- High-density lipoproteinat baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention
The investigators will measure HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) as a component of lipid markers.
- Glycosylated hemoglobinat baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention
The investigators will measure HbA1c (mg/dL) as a marker of metabolic health.
- Glucoseat baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention
The investigators will measure fasting glucose (mg/dL) as a marker of metabolic health.
- Insulinat baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention
The investigators will measure insulin (U/ML) as a marker of metabolic health.
- Waist Circumferenceat baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention
The investigators will measure waist circumference (cm) as a marker of metabolic health.