Rise & Thrive: Community-Engagement Intervention for Stress and Depression in Youth. (R&T)

Rise & Thrive: Community-Engagement Intervention to Address Chronic Stress and Prevent Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults

American youth and young adults face persistent and chronic stressors, which have contributed to a mental health crisis in the United States. Four in 10 American high school students experience chronic feelings of sadness and hopelessness, 2 in 10 report suicidal ideation, and 1 in 10 attempt suicide. For adolescents and young adults, chronic stress translates to weathering, or wear and tear on the mind and body. Chronic stress in youth contributes to psychological distress, elevated allostatic load, and an elevated risk for chronic diseases and premature death. While the connection between chronic stress and health is well documented, few studies provide evidence on innovative, non-medication strategies to reduce stress and mitigate the consequences of chronic stress on psychological and physiological outcomes. Thus, there is a critical need to rigorously test interventions that prevent the negative influence of chronic stress on mental and physical health, beginning in adolescence. The specific aims of the study are to 1) Determine whether a community-engagement, peer-based behavioral intervention reduces depressive symptoms in adolescents and young adults, 2) Determine whether a community-engagement behavioral intervention lowers allostatic load scores in adolescents and young adults, and 3) Identify factors that help sustain or inhibit community-engagement and intervention effects for adolescents and young adults. To accomplish these aims, the team will conduct a phase II community-engaged, peer group-based, multi-component randomized behavioral clinical trial. We will collect psychological and physiological measures at baseline, then at 6-month intervals for 2 years post-community-engaged, skills training.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Detailed Description: The investigators will conduct a phase II group-based, multi-component, and multi-level randomized behavioral clinical trial. The investigators will recruit and enroll 300 participants aged 15-20 (N=150 intervention and N=150 control) in Chicago, Illinois. After enrollment, participants will be randomized using a block-stratified randomization technique to ensure balance regarding race, ethnicity, and gender. Once participants are recruited, the investigators will use a computer-generated random number sequence to assign participants to the intervention group (Rise Community Engagement) or control group (Adulting 101: Life Skills Training). Participants assigned to the intervention arm will participate in 5 half-day, peer-based, interactive sessions teaching community engagement principles. Participants will be assigned to the control arm and will participate in 5 half-day interactive sessions teaching life skills training. Participants in the control arm will undergo life skills training with the same number of sessions and duration as the intervention arm.

Participants in both the intervention and control arms will report depressive symptoms on a clinically relevant measure (e.g., Patient Health Questionnaire-9) at baseline and then <1-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24- months post-initial 5-day community engagement or life skills training. In addition to depressive symptoms, the investigators will measure other aspects of psychological distress, including anxiety and stress, as secondary outcomes. Participants in both groups will have biometric samples, like blood draws, and clinical measurements of allostatic load at baseline and then 6-,12-, and 24- months post-initial 5-day community engagement or life skills training.

The proposed project will use a cluster randomized trial, which involves complete groups of individuals randomized to conditions (i.e., intervention, control), with clustering occurring in both arms. All of our statistical analyses will appropriately model the dependency among observations, which is a hallmark of multi-level modeling.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

300

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. 15-20 years old
  2. Identify as Black and/ or Hispanic/Latine
  3. Speak English

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Younger than 15 years old, or older than 20 years old
  2. Unable to attend the in-person sessions
  3. Non-fluent English speaker
  4. Do not identify as Black or Hispanic/Latine

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Rise Together: Community Engagement Intervention Arm
The "Rise Together" RJA intervention is a block stratified randomized, group behavioral intervention designed for Black and Latinx adolescents and young adults (AYAs). The curriculum will specifically focus on the principles of AYAs community engagement and problem-solving skills through peer relationships. Trained facilitators will lead both didactic and interactive sessions on 1) Community Building, 2) Unpacking Stress and Community Needs, 3) Creating SMART Goals, 4) Researching and Refining SMART Goals, 5) Building Your Team, 6) Story Sharing, and 7) Action Planning, focused on community needs and engagement. Participants will learn how to use sources to understand what the community needs (e.g., transportation, healthcare, and education). Participants will analyze policy, develop SMART goals, identify community leaders, and develop plans with peers. Additionally, Rise Together will foster a network of peer support and equip AYAs with community engagement knowledge.
The "Rise Together" RJA intervention is a block stratified randomized, group behavioral intervention designed for Black and Latinx adolescents and young adults (AYAs). The curriculum will specifically focus on the principles of AYAs community engagement and problem-solving skills through peer relationships. Trained facilitators will lead both didactic and interactive sessions on 1) Community Building, 2) Unpacking Stress and Community Needs, 3) Creating SMART Goals, 4) Researching and Refining SMART Goals, 5) Building Your Team, 6) Story Sharing, and 7) Action Planning, focused on community needs and engagement. Participants will learn how to use sources to understand what the community needs (e.g., transportation, healthcare, and education). Participants will analyze policy, develop SMART goals, identify community leaders, and develop plans with peers. Additionally, Rise Together will foster a network of peer support and equip AYAs with community engagement knowledge.
Active Comparator: Adulting 101: Life Skills
Adulting 101: Life Skills attention control is a 5-day in-person program that will meet the same number of sessions and duration as the experimental intervention. This attention control is based on the "Project Life" program, which was initially developed for individuals supporting youth transitioning out of foster care to teach life skills for independent living. This curriculum is delivered through didactic and interactive modules that provide knowledge and informational resources, along with hands-on activities and life skills demonstrations. Sessions include: 1) Community Building, 2) Career Preparation, 3) Education, 4)Money Management, 5) Health and Nutrition, 6) Home Management, and 7) Story Sharing. Participants will learn skills for adulthood and gain experience, developing career and education goals.
Adulting 101: Life Skills attention control is a 5-day in-person program that will meet the same number of sessions and duration as the experimental intervention. This attention control is based on the "Project Life" program, which was initially developed for individuals supporting youth transitioning out of foster care to teach life skills for independent living. This curriculum is delivered through didactic and interactive modules that provide knowledge and informational resources, along with hands-on activities and life skills demonstrations. Sessions include: 1) Community Building, 2) Career Preparation, 3) Education, 4)Money Management, 5) Health and Nutrition, 6) Home Management, and 7) Story Sharing. Participants will learn skills for adulthood and gain experience, developing career and education goals.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Depressive Symptoms
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 0-1-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24- months post initial 5-day intervention.
To evaluate depressive symptoms and overall depression, the investigators will use the following measurement tools: the Patient Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]. The investigators have chosen these metrics because these tools have been validated within our study population, and the PHQ-9 is used in clinical practice. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is used in clinical practice to diagnose and manage depression and has a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 5 points on the PHQ-9 total score. The minimum is a score of 0, and the maximum is a score of 27, with higher scores indicating worse depressive symptoms. The scoring is as follows: Scores 0-4: None/minimal depression, 5-9: mild depression, 10-14: moderate depression, 15-19: moderately severe depression, 20-27: severe depression.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 0-1-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24- months post initial 5-day intervention.
Metabolic Syndrome
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention

Biomarkers will be collected from these systems: cardiovascular (e.g., systolic and diastolic blood pressure (measured in mmHg), serum triglycerides (mg/dL) and HDL cholesterol (mg/dL), metabolic (e.g., glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c (mg/dL)] , fasting glucose (mg/dL), waist circumference (cm), and insulin (U/ML).

Will measure seated blood pressure, height (cm), weight (Kg), and waist circumference using the same protocols used in the HCHS/SOL Youth for rigor and reproducibility.

To arrive at one reported value of metabolic syndrome, we will

  1. a count of the number of signs that meet International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria, and
  2. Also, create a continuous metabolic risk score. To calculate this score, each biomarker will have values standardized into a z-score, then sum the z-scores, (Before transformation waist circumference will be normed for age, sex, and race using nationally representative data from NHANES.)
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention
Blood Pressure
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
The investigators will measure systolic and diastolic blood pressure (measured in mmHg) using a size-appropriate blood pressure cuff.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
Triglycerides
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
The investigators will measure serum triglycerides (mg/dL) as a component of lipid markers.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
High-density lipoprotein
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
The investigators will measure HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) as a component of lipid markers.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
Glycosylated hemoglobin
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
The investigators will measure HbA1c (mg/dL) as a marker of metabolic health.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
Glucose
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
The investigators will measure fasting glucose (mg/dL) as a marker of metabolic health.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
Insulin
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
The investigators will measure insulin (U/ML) as a marker of metabolic health.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
Waist Circumference
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
The investigators will measure waist circumference (cm) as a marker of metabolic health.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Perceived Stress
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 0-1 month, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24- months post initial 5-day intervention.
The investigators will use the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Short Form on psychological stress experiences to enhance rigor and reproducibility. This tool has acceptable reliability and validity in AYAs. The scoring range is 4-20, with higher scores indicating greater stress severity.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 0-1 month, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24- months post initial 5-day intervention.
Anxiety
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 0-1 month, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24- months post initial 5-day intervention.
Anxiety will be measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 (GAD-7). The GAD-7 has been validated with our study population and is used in clinical practice with an MCID of 4 points on the GAD-7 total score. The scoring is as follows: 0-4: Minimal anxiety, 5-9: Mild anxiety,10-14: Moderate anxiety, and 15-21: Severe anxiety.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 0-1 month, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24- months post initial 5-day intervention.
Inflammation
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
The investigators will use biomarkers from inflammatory/immune systems (e.g., Hs-CRP (mg/L), IL-1β (pg/mL), IL-6 (pg/mL), IL-8 (pg/mL), suPAR (pg/mL), and TNF-α (pg/mL). The investigators plan to measure an inflammation score, by standardizing values each biomarker into a z-score, then sum the z-scores to arrive at one reported inflammation score.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
C-Reactive Protein
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
The investigators will measure Hs-CRP (mg/L) as a measure of inflammation.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
Interleukin-1βeta
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention
The investigators will measure IL-1β (pg/mL) as a measure of inflammation.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention
Interleukin-6
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
The investigators will measure IL-6 (pg/mL) as a measure of inflammation.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
Interleukin-8
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
The investigators will measure IL-8 (pg/mL) as a measure of inflammation.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR)
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
The investigators will measure suPAR (pg/mL) as a measure of inflammation.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α)
Time Frame: Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.
The investigators will measure TNF-α (pg/mL) as a measure of inflammation.
Time Frame: at baseline and then 6-, 12-, and 24- months post initial 5 day-intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Elan C Hope, PhD, Policy Research Associates

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

June 9, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 29, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 21, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 21, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

April 28, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 28, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 21, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Northwestern Univ. (NU) and Lurie Children's (LCH) are committed to the open and timely dissemination of all research outcomes through the development of repositories and databases, posting of data on open websites, presentations, and through publications as soon as is feasible after peer review. Team will assure the confidentiality of all human subjects' data and will adhere to all HIPAA rules to ensure compliance with human subject confidentiality requirements. Collaborators will ensure that any data obtained as a part of the awarded grant will be made available to collaborators and to the general research community through databases and public repositories and by publishing in printed or electronic form as soon as practically possible after the data have been obtained and peer-reviewed. Team agrees to publish all data derived from this award in a timely fashion and to make those data freely available via

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Research data will be made publicly available through posting on open websites, presentations, and peer-reviewed publications (in some cases after an embargo period not to exceed one year). Inventions appropriate for commercialization will be protected via intellectual property (IP) filings, commercialized, and provided to society as products or services by or through the Innovation and New Ventures Office, NU's technology transfer office. Innovation and New Ventures Office manages NU's invention disclosure, assessment, patenting, and marketing processes. NU is committed to the free exchange of data and resources and for the rapid commercialization of biomedical inventions for the benefit of the public, consistent with the terms of the Bayh-Dole Act. NU's commercialization practices to date have maximized the public benefit of inventions arising from federal funding by providing useful, commercially relevant, and available products and services.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Data and resource sharing is an essential to the study activities. The team will share the data and resources generated by this project by making our findings, intervention materials and protocols (e.g., training materials, manuals, etc.), available to the following communities:

  1. Scientists interested in developing, implementing, and testing activism as an approach to reduce the health risks associated with structural racism, particularly among adolescent and young adult populations. Data and resource sharing with this community will encourage dialogue about the nuances of activism as a youth health intervention, implementation, and evaluation research in youthfocused community settings.
  2. Practitioners, clinicians, youth educators, administrators, and other decision-makers, so our findings may be used to inform youth civic education and advocacy programming;
  3. The community at large, so adolescents, young adults, and their caregivers and educators can use our findings

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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