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Social Support for Stress in Children and Adolescents

N/A

Recruiting

Led By Megan Gunnar, PhD

Research Sponsored by University of Minnesota

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be younger than 18 years old

Must not have

History of serious medical illness (e.g., cancer, organ transplant)

Youth taking beta-adrenergic medications

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up 2 hours

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial looks at how well parents can help relieve stress in children of different ages, and whether friends have the same effect.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for adolescents with normal hearing, vision, and language skills. It's not for those with autism, tattoos that interfere with MRI scans, severe claustrophobia, certain medications like beta-blockers or glucocorticoids, psychiatric or neurological disorders, serious medical conditions like cancer or organ transplants, pregnancy, congenital/chromosomal disorders (e.g., Down Syndrome), or metal implants/piercings/braces.

What is being tested?

The study aims to understand how parental support helps reduce stress in teenagers during scary situations and if this changes as they grow up. It also looks at whether friends or strangers can provide similar comfort. Participants will answer questionnaires and undergo MRI scans.

What are the potential side effects?

There are no direct side effects from the interventions since they involve non-invasive procedures such as filling out questionnaires and undergoing MRI scans. However, individuals prone to anxiety may experience discomfort during the aversive conditioning.

Eligibility Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

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I have a history of a serious illness like cancer or an organ transplant.

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I am a young person taking beta-blocker medications.

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I have a condition like Down Syndrome or cerebral palsy.

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I am a young person currently taking glucocorticoids.

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I have been diagnosed with a psychiatric or neurological disorder.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ 2 hours

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~2 hours

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 2 hours for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Amygdala-dmPFC by Task: Psychophysiological interaction (PPI) functional connectivity during threat conditioning

Amygdala-vmPFC by Task: Psychophysiological interaction (PPI) functional connectivity during threat conditioning

Change Heart Rate Response

+9 more

Secondary study objectives

Change in Self Report of Stress

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

4Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Primary ParentExperimental Treatment2 Interventions

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of 4 conditions that differ by who is with them in the MRI scanner room: Primary Parent, Close Friend, Experimenter, No Social Partner.

Group II: No Social PartnerExperimental Treatment2 Interventions

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of 4 conditions that differ by who is with them in the MRI scanner room: Primary Parent, Close Friend, Experimenter, No Social Partner.

Group III: ExperimenterExperimental Treatment2 Interventions

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of 4 conditions that differ by who is with them in the MRI scanner room: Primary Parent, Close Friend, Experimenter, No Social Partner.

Group IV: Close FriendExperimental Treatment2 Interventions

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of 4 conditions that differ by who is with them in the MRI scanner room: Primary Parent, Close Friend, Experimenter, No Social Partner.

0 / 5Eligibility criteria met