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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06017050

BullyDown, a Text Messaging-based Bullying Prevention Program for Middle School-aged Youth

Given the limited impact of existing school-based interventions and the time associated with implementing them during school time, more efficient and effective intervention methods are needed. Programs that can be delivered to middle school youth irrespective of whether they are attending school physically or virtually may be especially relevant as school boundaries become more fluid. BullyDown addresses this critical need by providing a scalable program that could be quickly and cost-effectively disseminated nationally.

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Key information

Conditions

Bullying Aggression Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Harassment, Non-Sexual Social Behavior

Age range

12 year–14 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Center for Innovative Public Health Research, San Clemente, California, United States

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Participants will: be enrolled in one of our partner schools, be in middle school (i.e., 7th or 8th grade) or between the ages of 12-14 years of age, be English-speaking, own their own cell phone, intend to have the same cell phone number for at least 3 months (this may or may not apply, depending on the number of youth who meet this criterion), and provide informed written assent. Non-English speakers and youth who do not have the reading ability to complete the screener are not eligible. Youth recruited from schools will also be required to have parental permission.

Treatment and study plan

BullyDown

Behavioral

BullyDown is an 8 week, text messaging-based prevention program aimed to prevent bullying behaviors among middle school-aged youth. Message content is based upon the social-emotional learning model.

Attention-matched control

Behavioral

The attention-matched control will receive the messages for the same number of days as the intervention. Content will talk about 'healthy lifestyle' topics, such as fitness and healthy social media use.

Primary outcomes

  1. Feasibility: Recruitment Rate

    Time frame: Recruitment period

    If at least 75% of eligible participants assent to participate, this will be supportive of a hypothesis of feasibility. Note that a youth could assent and not be randomized if they did not complete the baseline survey.

  2. Acceptability of the Intervention

    Time frame: Intervention end, 9 weeks after program enrollment

    Youth were asked: "How likely are you to recommend BullyDown to other people your age?" Answers were collected on a 5-point Likert scale. The response option ranged from 1-5, with higher values reflecting greater acceptability. An average score of 4 or higher was deemed supportive of program acceptability.

  3. Feasibility: Retention at 3-month Follow-up

    Time frame: 21 weeks post-randomization, 3 months after the 9-week program ended

    A retention rate of 80% or higher was deemed to be supportive of a hypothesis of feasibility

Secondary outcomes

  1. Feasibility: Retention Rate at Program End

    Time frame: 9 weeks post-randomization

    A retention rate of 80% or higher was deemed supportive of a hypothesis of feasibility.

Other outcomes

  1. Rates of Bullying Perpetration in the Intervention Versus Control Group

    Time frame: Reported bullying perpetration behavior in the past 30 days at the end of the 9 week program

    Bullying behaviors towards other youth the same age 3 or more times in the past 30 days

  2. Rates of Aggressive Behavior in the Intervention Versus Control Group

    Time frame: Reported aggressive behavior in the past 30 days at the end of the 9 week program

    Youth who report aggressive acts towards others 1-2 times in the past 30 days

  3. Scores of Bystanding Behavior in the Intervention Versus Control Group

    Time frame: Responses provided at the program end survey, 9 weeks after they were randomized

    Bystander intentions are measured using the 5-item University of Illinois Willingness to Intervene scale. Each of the items is measured on a 4-point Likert scale, resulting in a sum that ranges from 5 - 20. A higher score reflects a greater willingness to intervene.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Center for Innovative Public Health Research

Other

Collaborators

  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
  • University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Registry information

Official study title

Developing a Bullying Prevention Program That Transcends Physical Boundaries

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Aug 30, 2023
Registry last updated
Dec 5, 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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