This is a randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy of a game-based intervention to reduce alcohol-related harms among sexual and gender minority youth.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
28
Singularities is a theory-based, community-informed, web-accessible, roleplaying game-based intervention incorporating 4 primary components: fostering healthy identity development in a safe environment; encouraging help-seeking behaviors; encouraging use of productive coping; alcohol-harm reduction; and encouraging healthy internet and social media use.
Food4Thought is an attention control condition in which we provide participants with similar amounts of research team contact and program contact as the intervention. Participants will play the game Pick Your Plate! A Global Guide to Nutrition, developed by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. Participants are instructed to build healthy meals using cuisine from around the world while ensuring they stick to a budget and meet all their nutritional needs. Food4Thought will be delivered via Qualtrics.
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Alcohol-related Harms
Primary outcome is alcohol-related harms defined as the frequency of 19 total harms (e.g., Hangover after drinking, Unable to remember what happened after drinking, Had sex that you later regretted, Trouble with parent(s) because of drinking Physical fight because you were affected by alcohol, Drove in a vehicle after drinking) as measured in the School Health and Alcohol Harm Reduction Project (SHAHRP)
Time frame: 3 months
Drinking Quantity
Number of drinks consumed on a typical day of drinking in the past three months via Quantity-Frequency items
Time frame: 3 months
Drinking Frequency
Number of days on which one or more drinks were consumed in past month via Quantity-Frequency items.
Time frame: 3 months
Binge Drinking
Number of times where 4 or 5+ drinks (asking both, regardless of assigned/biological sex at birth to be inclusive of gender minorities) were consumed in a 2-hour period over the past 3 months, via NIAAA items
Time frame: 3 months
Alcohol Use Initiation
Survey item from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey assessing lifetime alcohol use.
Time frame: 3 months
Alcohol Harm Reduction Skills
Which behaviors are engaged in while drinking or partying, measured with the Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale (PBSS). Scores range from 20 to 120, with higher scores indicating more skills used
Time frame: 3 months
Bystander Alcohol Harm Reduction Skills
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Total # of times a specific strategy was used to help others before, during, or after drinking, using the Strategies subscale of the Bystanders to Alcohol Risk Scale (BARS). Scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more skills used
Time frame: 3 months
Emotional Distress Tolerance Skills
Beliefs about feeling distressed or upset, measured with the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS). Scores range from 15 to 75, with higher scores indicating a poorer outcome
Time frame: 3 months
Emotion Regulation and Decentering Practices
How often mindfulness practices are used, measured with the Applied Mindfulness Process Scale (AMPS). Scores range from 0 to 60, with higher scores indicating a better outcome
Time frame: 3 months
Healthy Social Media Use
Endorsement of beliefs and thoughts about social media, using MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey items
Time frame: 3 months