Can a resilience intervention (Bounce Back) improve children's mental health?

ISRCTN ISRCTN11162672
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11162672
Submission date
19/03/2020
Registration date
20/03/2020
Last edited
04/01/2021
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
The rates of mental health problems in children and young people (CYP) are estimated to be much higher than previously thought, with two in five CYP reporting increased symptomatology. Poor mental health has been connected to poor developmental outcomes, such as lower academic achievement, poor peer and school relationships, and lower well-being. Cost-effective and feasible interventions are thus urgently needed for the improvement of mental health outcomes and promotion of wellbeing in CYP. Schools are considered an ideal setting for the monitoring and promotion of mental health, given how much time CYP spend in these. The current study thus aims to assess the effectiveness of the Bounce Back (BB), a group-based intervention program delivered in schools. BB aims to improve pupil understanding of resilience and wellbeing, provide practical skills to make positive behaviour changes, support pupils to build their confidence and friendships. These outcomes are hoped to support a positive transition to secondary school.

Who can participate?
Young people in Years 5 or 6 attending primary schools in Newham that implement the BB intervention reporting at least one indicator of emerging mental health difficulty (a mild or moderate emotional, behavioural, attention, or relationship difficulty).

What does the study involve?
Primary schools in Newham are randomly allocated into one of two groups:
1. Participate in Bounce Back (BB) during the 2019 Autumn term
2. Be part of a waitlist comparison group who will participate in BB in 2020 Spring-Summer term
The Bounce Back programme is delivered for one hour per week for 10 weeks.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no known risks/disadvantages of completing the intervention. There are no guaranteed benefits, however, most people find taking part in research projects rewarding, as it may help to improve services for young people, and to find out about things that may benefit other people in the future.

Where is the study run from?
London Borough of Newham Children’s Health and HeadStart Newham CYPS (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2019 to October 2020

Who is funding the study?
National Lottery Community Fund (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Prof Neil Humphrey (scientific)
neil.humphrey@manchester.ac.uk
Laurie Poole
Laurie.Poole@newham.gov.uk

Study website

Contact information

Prof Neil Humphrey
Scientific

University of Manchester
Manchester Institute of Education
Ellen Wilkinson Building
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-8148-9500
Phone +44 (0)161 275 3404
Email neil.humphrey@manchester.ac.uk
Dr Laurie Poole
Public

3rd Floor East Wing Newham Dockside
1000 Dockside Road
London
E16 2QU
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)20 3373 0545
Email Laurie.Poole@newham.gov.uk

Study information

Study designWaitlist cluster randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designCluster randomised trial
Study setting(s)School
Study typeQuality of life
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleBounce Back: Randomized trial of a brief, school-based group intervention for children with emergent mental health difficulties
Study objectivesThe principal questions of the current study are:
RQ1. What is the impact of BounceBack Newham intervention on participants’ self-reported emotional (Me and My Feelings) scores?
RQ2. What is the impact of BounceBack Newham intervention on participants’ self-reported behavioural (Me and My Feelings) scores?
RQ3. What is the impact of BounceBack Newham intervention on participants’ self-reported self-esteem (SRS-Self-esteem) scores?
RQ4. What is the impact of BounceBack Newham intervention on participants’ self-reported problem solving skills (SRS-Problem-solving) scores?
RQ5. Is the impact of BounceBack Newham intervention on the above outcomes moderated by attendance rates?
RQ6. Is the impact of BounceBack Newham intervention on the above outcomes sustained over time?
Ethics approval(s)Approved 28/05/2019, UCL Research Ethics Committee (Office of the Vice-Provost (Research) University College London, Taviton St, London, WC1E 6BT, UK; +44 (0)20 7679 8717; ethics@ucl.ac.uk), ref: 6299/004
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedChild mental health
InterventionA sample of 24 primary schools in Newham are randomly allocated into one of two groups:
1. Participate in Bounce Back (BB) during the 2019 Autumn term
2. Be part of a waitlist comparison group who will participate in BB in 2020 Spring-Summer term

Randomization took place at the school level and was balanced on year group (5 vs. 6).

Dose: Weekly 1-hour facilitated group activities
Duration: One school term (10 weeks)
How it is administered: Young people work as a group, which is facilitated by a Youth Practitioner, to identify and learn about 10 different life areas and how these link to maintaining wellbeing and emotional resilience. Using an action learning approach, “plan, do, review”, each participant sets a personal behaviour change challenge each week and rates their progress towards achieving it. Participants are provided with a workbook to guide their learning.
Intervention typeBehavioural
Primary outcome measureEmotional symptoms, measured using the Me and My Feelings at baseline and 10-weeks
Secondary outcome measuresAt baseline and 10-weeks:
1. Behavioral problems measured using the Me and My Feelings tool
2. Self-esteem measured using the Student Resilience Survey
3. Problem-solving skills measured using the Student-Resilience Survey
Overall study start date24/01/2019
Completion date31/10/2020

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Other
Age groupChild
SexBoth
Target number of participants25 schools (390 children)
Total final enrolment326
Key inclusion criteria1. Attending primary schools in Newham that implement the BB intervention
2. In Years 5 or 6
3. Reporting at least one indicator of emerging mental health difficulty (a mild or moderate emotional, behavioural, attention, or relationship difficulty) as assessed by the professional recommending or themself
4. Following receipt of recommendation, 1:1 screening between young person and youth practitioner to determine level of difficultly and willingness to take part in BB
Key exclusion criteria1. Returned a parental opt-out
2. Currently under the care of CAMHS
Date of first enrolment01/05/2019
Date of final enrolment31/05/2019

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

London Borough of Newham Children’s Health and HeadStart Newham CYPS
3rd Floor East Wing Newham Dockside
1000 Dockside Road
London
E16 2QU
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Anna Freud Centre
Charity

The Kantor Centre of Excellence
4-8 Rodney Street
London
N1 9JH
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)20 7794 2313
Email jessica.deighton@annafreud.org
Website http://www.annafreud.org/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/0497xq319

Funders

Funder type

Charity

National Lottery Community Fund
Private sector organisation / Other non-profit organizations
Alternative name(s)
Big Lottery Fund
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/05/2020
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
IPD sharing planThe current data sharing plans for this study are unknown and will be available at a later date.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 08/08/2020 11/08/2020 Yes No

Editorial Notes

04/01/2021: Contact details updated.
18/12/2020: Internal review.
11/08/2020: Publication reference and total final enrolment number added.
20/03/2020: Trial’s existence confirmed by UCL.