WORKSHOP ON BUILDING CAPACITY TO REDUCE BULLYING AND ITS IMPACT ON YOUTH ACROSS THE LIFE COURSE

Transcription

1 Institute of Medicine and National Research Council of the Academies WORKSHOP ON BUILDING CAPACITY TO REDUCE BULLYING AND ITS IMPACT ON YOUTH ACROSS THE LIFE COURSE April 9, :35-4:05 PM Session 4: Technology-Based Interventions Michele L. Ybarra MPH PhD Center for Innovative Public Health Research

2 Using technology to affect bullying

3 Harnessing text messaging to deliver bullying prevention programming to middle school adolescents BullyDown is a 6-week, social-emotional learningbased booster delivered via text messaging for middle school students About 3-8 messages will be sent per day. Topics will cover: Empathy and communication Attitudes toward bullying and attitudes supportive of aggression Managing Anger, hostility, and impulsivity Problem solving and coping Perspective-taking, respect for diversity, and intentions to intervene to help others Currently in development Funded by HopeLab

4 Examples from other health intervention areas

5 CyberSenga: Exploring reasons to be abstinent

6 Ybarra ML, Bull SS, Prescott TL, Korchmaros JD, Bangsberg DR, Kiwanuka JP. Adolescent abstinence and unprotected sex in CyberSenga, an Internet-based HIV prevention program: randomized clinical trial of efficacy. PLoS One Aug 14;8(8):e At 6-months post intervention.. 90% 80% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 57% 55% 30% 20% 24% 21% 10% 0% 5% Abstinence Unprotected sex Control Intervention Intervention+booster

7 StopMySmoking

8 Example SMS USA program messages Day sent Day 1* (Pre-Quit) Day 2 (Pre-Quit) Day 3 (Pre-Quit) Day 15 (Quit Day) Day 20 (Early Quit) Day 31 (Late Quit) Text message Congratulations! The hardest part deciding to quit is already behind you. Write down your quit date [insert day] and post it where you can see it every day. Write down a list of reasons why you want to quit smoking. Put the list in a place where you ll see it every day. Got stress? Maybe it s your cigarettes. In between cigarettes, your body goes through nicotine withdrawal and makes you feel stressed out and anxious. I bet you re feeling cranky and annoyed right now. This is all normal. Just take a deep breath and get through the next 5 minutes. Right now, you re learning to quit. Just like learning to ride a bike or drive a car, it takes time. Before you know it, you ll learn to be a nonsmoker too. Encouragement from your friends and family might be starting to wane about now, but remember that they are probably still proud of you for quitting. Ybarra ML 1, Holtrop JS, Prescott TL, Rahbar MH, Strong D. Pilot RCT results of stop my smoking USA: a text messaging-based smoking cessation program for young adults. Nicotine Tob Res Aug;15(8):

9 At 3-months post quit-day - in Turkey 20% 18% 16% 14% 17% 14% 12% 10% 11% 8% 6% 4% 5% 2% 0% 0% 0% Among all adults Among light smokers Among female smokers Control Intervention Ybarra M 1, Bağci Bosi AT, Korchmaros J, Emri S A text messaging-based smoking cessation program for adult smokers: randomized controlled trial.. J Med Internet Res Dec 27;14(6):e172.

10 At 3-months post quit-day - in the US 50% 45% 40% 40% 45% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 30% Among all youth Control 26% Among youth who are not in a tertiary setting Intervention Ybarra ML 1, Holtrop JS, Prescott TL, Rahbar MH, Strong D. Pilot RCT results of stop my smoking USA: a text messaging-based smoking cessation program for young adults. Nicotine Tob Res Aug;15(8):

11 Guy2Guy

12 Health information seeking among adolescents based upon past-year bullying experiences 25% 21% 22% 20% 16% 15% 14% 10% 10% 8% 10% 5% 4% 0% Medications Depression, suicide Drugs or alcohol Violence or abuse Not bullied Bullied Mitchell KJ, Ybarra ML, Korchmaros JD. Sexual harassment among adolescents of different sexual orientations and gender identities. Child Abuse Negl Oct 19. pii: S (13)

13 Limitations to technology-based interventions It may not work for all youth but it may be a great way to reach and engage traditionally underserved populations There s sometimes an assumption that: If you build it, will it come. Technology-based programs require self-motivation and interest. Can be costly to develop.

14 Conclusions There is support from other fields that behavior change programs delivered online and via text messaging can change behavior Evidence-based programs for bullying that utilize technology should be explored further Figuring out how to engage youth and keep them coming back, may be key