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NCT Number: NCT05887973

Addressing Root Causes for Gun Violence Prevention (ARC-GVP)

The goal of this study is to help build the evidence base for a locally-relevant youth firearm violence prevention program in Washington D.C., a city experiencing disparities in youth firearm violence outcomes.

The main question it aims to answer is:

How is youth participation in the summer youth employment program, the True Reasons I Grabbed the Gun Evolved from Risk (The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project), which is designed to address root causes of gun violence, associated with individual youth behavioral outcomes, including pro-social involvement, aggression, and firearm-related attitudes and behaviors?

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Key information

Conditions

Violence Aberrant Motor Behavior in Dementia Adolescent Aggression Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Firearm Injury Social Behavior

Age range

14 year–24 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103, United States

Location status: Recruiting

About this study

The goal of this study is to help build the evidence base for a locally-relevant youth firearm violence prevention program in a city experiencing disparities in youth firearm violence outcomes. The main question it aims to answer is:

How is youth participation in a summer youth employment program that is designed to address root causes of gun violence (The T.R.I.G.G.E.R project), associated with individual youth behavioral outcomes, including pro-social involvement, retaliatory attitudes, aggression, and firearm behaviors?

To examine this question, participants will be invited to complete four surveys over the course of one year to assess attitudinal and behavioral change:

  • A pre-test at the start of the program
  • A first post-test 2-4 weeks following the conclusion of the program
  • A second post-test 6 months following the conclusion of the program
  • A third and final post-test 12 months following the conclusion of the program

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Youth in Washington D.C. who are participating in The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project, a grassroots youth firearm violence prevention program

Exclusion criteria

  • Emancipated minors

Treatment and study plan

The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project

Behavioral

The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project includes the following core components to address root causes of gun violence:

  • Summer Employment
  • Social and Emotional Learning
  • Future Orientation
  • Adult and Peer Support
  • Critical Consciousness
  • Civic Efficacy and Engagement

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Civic Efficacy

    Time frame: Outcomes will be measured at 4 time points over 1 year: at the start of the summer programs, 2-4 weeks post, 6-months post, and 1-year post participation

    The investigators will assess change in civic efficacy (i.e., youth participants' sense of belief that they can create positive change in their communities) over time using the 3-item Civic Efficacy scale; the unit(s) of measurement are the Mean and Standard Deviation of scale scores; Minimum Value: 1 Maximum Value: 5, higher scores indicate a better outcome

  2. Change in Pro-Social Involvement

    Time frame: Outcomes will be measured at 4 time points over 1 year: at the start of the summer programs, 2-4 weeks post, 6-months post, and 1-year post participation

    The investigators will assess change in pro-social involvement (i.e., youth participants' involvement in pro-social community organizations and activities) over time using an 8-item adapted Participation in Groups and Voluntary Organizations scale; the units of measurement are the Mean and Standard Deviation of scale scores; Minimum Value: 0 Maximum Value: 8; higher scores indicate a better outcome

  3. Change in Attitudes towards Violence and Retaliation

    Time frame: Outcomes will be measured at 4 time points over 1 year: at the start of the summer programs, 2-4 weeks post, 6-months post, and 1-year post participation

    The investigators will assess change in youth participants' attitudes toward violence and retaliation over time using a 3-item Retaliatory Attitudes scale; the units of measurement are the Mean and Standard Deviation of scale scores; Minimum Value: 1 Maximum Value: 5; lower scores indicate a better outcome

  4. Change in Aggressive Behavior

    Time frame: Outcomes will be measured at 4 time points over 1 year: at the start of the summer programs, 2-4 weeks post, 6-months post, and 1-year post participation

    The investigators will assess change in non-firearm related aggressive behavior (i.e., fighting, non-firearm weapon carriage) over time using a 3-item Aggressive Behaviors scale; the unit(s) of measurement are the Mean and Standard Deviation of scale scores; Minimum: 0, Maximum: 15, lower scores indicate a better outcome

  5. Change in Firearm Carriage Frequency

    Time frame: Outcomes will be measured at 4 time points over 1 year: at the start of the summer programs, 2-4 weeks post, 6-months post, and 1-year post participation

    The investigators will assess change in the frequency of firearm carriage (for any reason besides hunting, target shooting, competitive shooting, or recreation) over time using 1-item; the unit(s) of measurement are the Mean and Standard Deviation of scale scores; Minimum: 1 Maximum: 7, lower scores indicate a better outcome

  6. Change in Firearm Use

    Time frame: Outcomes will be measured at 4 time points over 1 year: at the start of the summer programs, 2-4 weeks post, 6-months post, and 1-year post participation

    The investigators will assess change in youth participants' firearm use (i.e., handling a gun, firing a gun, holding a gun in a selfie) over time, using a three-item Firearm Use scale; the unit(s) of measurement are the Means and Standard Deviations of scale scores, Minimum: 0 Maximum: 18, lower scores indicate a better outcome

  7. Change in Firearm Aggression

    Time frame: Outcomes will be measured at 4 time points over 1 year: at the start of the summer programs, 2-4 weeks post, 6-months post, and 1-year post participation

    The investigators will assess change in youth participants' firearm aggression (i.e., threatening someone with a gun, firing at or around someone), using a two-item scale adapted from the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale; the unit(s) of measurement are the Means and Standard Deviations of scale scores, Minimum: 0 Maximum: 10, lower scores indicate a better outcome

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Laney Rupp, MPH

CONTACT

[email protected]

734-647-6469

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Michigan

Other

Collaborators

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Registry information

Official study title

Addressing Root Causes for Gun Violence Prevention (ARC-GVP) Outcomes Study

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jun 5, 2023
Registry last updated
Aug 14, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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