ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT02984709Updated Apr 24, 2019Results posted

Check It! 2.0: Positive Psychology Intervention for Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

An interventional study of Positive Psychology Intervention and Education in Type1diabetes, sponsored by Vanderbilt University. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 13 Years to 17 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-04-24.

Sponsored by Vanderbilt University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
48
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
13 Years to 17 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The treatment regimen for type 1 diabetes is complex and demanding, and many adolescents have problems with adherence. The proposed study will pilot test a positive psychology intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes aimed at improving adherence to treatment based on feedback from the first iteration of the intervention. The potential benefits include helping adolescents achieve better glycemic control, thereby reducing the health risks and complications associated with diabetes.

Read the detailed description

The proposed study has the potential to improve adherence to the diabetes regimen in adolescents with type 1 diabetes without compromising their quality of life. The potential benefits include helping adolescents achieve better glycemic control, thereby reducing the health risks and complications associated with diabetes.

The investigators will use a positive psychology framework, which emphasizes positive emotions and strengths rather than problems, to promote adherence.

Positive affect, defined as feelings that reflect pleasurable engagement with the environment (e.g., happy, cheerful,proud), have been linked with favorable health outcomes and increased adherence to medical regimens. Further, positive affect has been shown to increase people's ability to use complex coping strategies. Randomized controlled trials of positive psychology interventions have been shown to successfully increase adults' adherence to medication and physical activity recommendations. However, no studies have examined the effects of positive psychology interventions on adherence behaviors in pediatric populations. Our ongoing work suggests that positive affect in adolescents with type 1 diabetes is related to greater use of adaptive coping strategies, lower levels of family conflict, and fewer depressive symptoms, and demonstrates that a positive psychology intervention has the potential to induce positive affect in adolescents. The investigators propose to pilot test a positive psychology intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes. This low-cost, innovative intervention is designed to induce positive affect in adolescents (age 13-17) through tailored exercises in gratitude and self-affirmation. The investigators will also promote positive parental involvement by asking caregivers to provide positive affirmation statements to adolescents. Finally, the investigators will explore the use of technology by delivering the intervention to adolescents and sending reminders to caregivers via text message using the Twilio/REDCap system.

Blood glucose monitoring is one of the best indicators of adherence to the recommended treatment regimen for type 1 diabetes, and frequency of blood glucose monitoring is strongly related to glycemic control. Further, frequency of blood glucose monitoring has been shown to decrease with age in adolescents, and parental reminders to check blood glucose are often a source of conflict between adolescents and their parents. Therefore, blood glucose monitoring represents a specific behavior that may be the best target for adherence interventions in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Thus, the specific aims are as follows:

Aim 1: Adapt a positive psychology intervention for adolescents (age 13-17) with type 1 diabetes designed to increase the frequency of blood glucose monitoring. Aim 2: Evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a positive psychology intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their caregivers delivered by text message with the Twilio/REDCap system. The primary outcome is glycemic control, and secondary outcomes include positive affect, coping, adherence (i.e., frequency of blood glucose monitoring), family conflict, and quality of life.

02

Conditions studied

  • Type1diabetes
03

In context

Lead sponsor

Vanderbilt University is the lead sponsor of 520 studies on the registry; 18 are open to participants now.

Of its 8 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 5 (63%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
13 Years to 17 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

Adolescents will be eligible if they are:

  1. between the ages of 13-17;
  2. have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for at least 1 year;
  3. have no other major health problems;
  4. are not currently participating in any other intervention studies;
  5. have a glycosylated hemoglobin level between 7.5 - 12% on date of enrollment;
  6. are patients of the Eskind Diabetes Clinic
  7. must read and write in English
  8. and must live the caregiver that is participating in the study with them

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

-

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
48 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Positive Psychology Intervention

    The text message group will receive the intervention components via text message. They will be instructed to think about things that make them feel good when they are struggling with diabetes management (i.e. gratitude). Also they will be instructed to think about a positive value when they are in a situation that makes it hard to check their blood sugar (i.e. Self-Affirmation). Additionally, to induce positive mood they will be texted gift cards codes valued at $5.00. Further, caregivers will be asked to provide weekly positive affirmations to their adolescents, focused on non-diabetes strengths. All adolescents will be given developmentally-appropriate diabetes education material at the time of enrollment.

    Behavioral: Positive Psychology Intervention

  • Active comparator
    Education Group

    The education group will be given developmentally-appropriate diabetes education material at the time of enrollment.

    Behavioral: Education

Interventions

  • BehavioralPositive Psychology Intervention

    Health Behavior Contract - Baseline visit Education Packet - Baseline visit Positive psychology training for teen and parents - baseline visit Parent praise reminder (text message) - one time per week (over 8 week intervention period) Teen gratitude message (text message) - every Monday (over 8 week intervention period) Teen positive value message (text message) - every Wednesday (over 8 week intervention period) Teen mood booster (text message) - every Thursday and Saturday and alternative Sundays (over 8 week intervention period) Small gift ($5 gift card code sent every 2 weeks for 8 weeks)

    Also known as: Check It 2.0

  • BehavioralEducation

    Health Behavior Contract - Baseline visit Education Packet - Baseline visit

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Glycemic Control (A1C)

    A1C is the percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin and represents an average of glycemic control over the previous 2-3 months.

    Time frame: 3 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Positive Affect

    Positive affect measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Scale for children (PANAS-C). The positive affect scale consists of 15 items, which are summed for a total score, ranging from 15-60. Higher scores indicate higher levels of positive affect.

    Time frame: 3 months

  2. Frequency of Blood Glucose Monitoring

    Glucometer download to determine frequency of blood glucose checks per day. Higher numbers indicates more frequent blood glucose checks.

    Time frame: 3 months

  3. Diabetes Family Conflict Scale

    Diabetes-specific family conflict was measured with the Revised Diabetes Family Conflict Scale (DRCS), which consists of 19 items regarding how much adolescents and parents argue about diabetes management tasks. Scores range from 19 to 57, and higher scores indicate greater family conflict.

    Time frame: 3 months

  4. Diabetes-Specific Quality of Life

    Pediatric Quality of Life Diabetes-Specific Module (PedsQL) measures quality of life. A mean scaled score is calculated, ranging from 0-100, with higher values indicating better quality of life.

    Time frame: 3 months

  5. Primary Control Coping

    Responses to Stress Questionnaire measures coping with diabetes-related stress. Three factors of coping are measured: primary control coping, secondary control coping,and disengagement coping. A ratio score is calculated to determine the ratio of each type of coping in relation to total coping, ranging from 0.00 to 1.00. Higher scores indicate greater relative use of primary control coping (e.g., problem solving, emotional modulation).

    Time frame: 3 months

  6. Secondary Control Coping

    Responses to Stress Questionnaire measures coping with diabetes-related stress. Three factors of coping are measured: primary control coping, secondary control coping,and disengagement coping. A ratio score is calculated to determine the ratio of each type of coping in relation to total coping, ranging from 0.00 to 1.00. Higher levels indicate greater relative use of secondary control coping (e.g., acceptance, distraction, positive thinking).

    Time frame: 3 months

  7. Disengagement Coping

    Responses to Stress Questionnaire measures coping with diabetes-related stress. Three factors of coping are measured: primary control coping, secondary control coping,and disengagement coping. A ratio score is calculated to determine the ratio of each type of coping in relation to total coping, ranging from 0.00 to 1.00. Higher levels indicate greater relative use of disengagement control coping (e.g., avoidance, denial).

    Time frame: 3 months

  8. Self Care Inventory

    The Self Care Inventory measures adherence to the recommended diabetes treatment regimen. Adolescents and parents report on the adolescents' self-care behaviors. Items are summed for a total score, ranging from 7-35. Higher scores indicate higher levels of adherence.

    Time frame: 3 months

07

Results

Posted Apr 24, 2019

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneExperimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education Group
Started2424
Completed2424
Not completed00

Outcome measures

PrimaryGlycemic Control (A1C)

A1C is the percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin and represents an average of glycemic control over the previous 2-3 months.

Time frame:
3 months
Reported as:
Mean · percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin
Glycemic Control (A1C)
percentage of glycosylated hemoglobinExperimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education Group
Glycemic Control (A1C)8.60 ± 1.499.35 ± 1.39
Statistical analysis
  • Experimental: Positive Psychology Intervention · Multiple linear regression · p = 0.593 (The following a priori selected covariates were adjusted in each analysis: age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, baseline depressive symptoms, pump use, and baseline measurement for each outcome.) · Estimated mean difference: -0.170 · 95% CI -0.81 to 0.47
SecondaryPositive Affect

Positive affect measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Scale for children (PANAS-C). The positive affect scale consists of 15 items, which are summed for a total score, ranging from 15-60. Higher scores indicate higher levels of positive affect.

Time frame:
3 months
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Positive Affect
score on a scaleExperimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education Group
Positive Affect40.6 ± 7.142.8 ± 9.2
Statistical analysis
  • Experimental: Positive Psychology Intervention · Multiple linear regression · p = 0.581 (The following a priori selected covariates were adjusted in each analysis: age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, baseline depressive symptoms, pump use, and baseline measurement for each outcome.) · Estimated mean difference: -1.137 · 95% CI -5.27 to 2.99
SecondaryFrequency of Blood Glucose Monitoring

Glucometer download to determine frequency of blood glucose checks per day. Higher numbers indicates more frequent blood glucose checks.

Time frame:
3 months
Reported as:
Mean · blood glucose checks per day
Frequency of Blood Glucose Monitoring
blood glucose checks per dayExperimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education Group
Frequency of Blood Glucose Monitoring3.8 ± 1.33.2 ± 1.5
Statistical analysis
  • Experimental: Positive Psychology Intervention · Multiple linear regression · p = 0.206 (The following a priori selected covariates were adjusted in each analysis: age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, baseline depressive symptoms, pump use, and baseline measurement for each outcome.) · Estimated mean difference: -0.587 · 95% CI -1.52 to 0.34
SecondaryDiabetes Family Conflict Scale

Diabetes-specific family conflict was measured with the Revised Diabetes Family Conflict Scale (DRCS), which consists of 19 items regarding how much adolescents and parents argue about diabetes management tasks. Scores range from 19 to 57, and higher scores indicate greater family conflict.

Time frame:
3 months
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Diabetes Family Conflict Scale
score on a scaleExperimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education Group
Diabetes Family Conflict - Teen30 ± 1236 ± 12
Diabetes Family Conflict - Parent23.8 ± 5.730.4 ± 9.6
Statistical analysis
  • Experimental: Positive Psychology Intervention · Multiple linear regression · p = 0.511 (The following a priori selected covariates were adjusted in each analysis: age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, baseline depressive symptoms, pump use, and baseline measurement for each outcome.) · Estimated mean difference: -2.494 · 95% CI -10.11 to 5.13
  • Experimental: Positive Psychology Intervention · Multiple linear regression · p = 0.190 (The following a priori selected covariates were adjusted in each analysis: age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, baseline depressive symptoms, pump use, and baseline measurement for each outcome.) · Estimated mean difference: -3.354 · 95% CI -8.44 to 1.73
SecondaryDiabetes-Specific Quality of Life

Pediatric Quality of Life Diabetes-Specific Module (PedsQL) measures quality of life. A mean scaled score is calculated, ranging from 0-100, with higher values indicating better quality of life.

Time frame:
3 months
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Diabetes-Specific Quality of Life
score on a scaleExperimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education Group
Diabetes-Specific Quality of Life71 ± 1471 ± 11
Statistical analysis
  • Experimental: Positive Psychology Intervention · Multiple linear regression · p = 0.873 (The following a priori selected covariates were adjusted in each analysis: age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, baseline depressive symptoms, pump use, and baseline measurement for each outcome.) · Estimated mean difference: 0.396 · 95% CI -4.57 to 5.36
SecondaryPrimary Control Coping

Responses to Stress Questionnaire measures coping with diabetes-related stress. Three factors of coping are measured: primary control coping, secondary control coping,and disengagement coping. A ratio score is calculated to determine the ratio of each type of coping in relation to total coping, ranging from 0.00 to 1.00. Higher scores indicate greater relative use of primary control coping (e.g., problem solving, emotional modulation).

Time frame:
3 months
Reported as:
Mean · ratio score
Primary Control Coping
ratio scoreExperimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education Group
Primary Control Coping.18 ± .03.20 ± .04
Statistical analysis
  • Experimental: Positive Psychology Intervention · Multiple linear regression · p = 0.603 (The following a priori selected covariates were adjusted in each analysis: age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, baseline depressive symptoms, pump use, and baseline measurement for each outcome.) · Estimated mean difference: 2.996 · 95% CI -8.57 to 14.56
SecondarySecondary Control Coping

Responses to Stress Questionnaire measures coping with diabetes-related stress. Three factors of coping are measured: primary control coping, secondary control coping,and disengagement coping. A ratio score is calculated to determine the ratio of each type of coping in relation to total coping, ranging from 0.00 to 1.00. Higher levels indicate greater relative use of secondary control coping (e.g., acceptance, distraction, positive thinking).

Time frame:
3 months
Reported as:
Mean · ratio score
Secondary Control Coping
ratio scorePositive Psychology InterventionEducation Group
Secondary Control Coping.27 ± .05.28 ± .04
SecondaryDisengagement Coping

Responses to Stress Questionnaire measures coping with diabetes-related stress. Three factors of coping are measured: primary control coping, secondary control coping,and disengagement coping. A ratio score is calculated to determine the ratio of each type of coping in relation to total coping, ranging from 0.00 to 1.00. Higher levels indicate greater relative use of disengagement control coping (e.g., avoidance, denial).

Time frame:
3 months
Reported as:
Mean · ratio score
Disengagement Coping
ratio scorePositive Psychology InterventionEducation Group
Disengagement Coping.14 ± .03.14 ± .03
SecondarySelf Care Inventory

The Self Care Inventory measures adherence to the recommended diabetes treatment regimen. Adolescents and parents report on the adolescents' self-care behaviors. Items are summed for a total score, ranging from 7-35. Higher scores indicate higher levels of adherence.

Time frame:
3 months
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Self Care Inventory
score on a scalePositive Psychology InterventionEducation Group
Self Care Inventory - Parent26.6 ± 3.925.9 ± 5.2
Self Care Inventory - Teen25.2 ± 5.126.0 ± 5.3

Adverse events

Collected over 1 year. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Experimental: Positive Psychology Intervention0/24 (0%)0/24 (0%)0/24 (0%)
Active Comparator: Education Group0/24 (0%)0/24 (0%)0/24 (0%)

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Experimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education GroupTotal
<=18 years242448
Between 18 and 65 years000
>=65 years000
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Experimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education GroupTotal
Mean15.0 ± 1.314.4 ± 1.214.7 ± 1.3
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Experimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education GroupTotal
Female141125
Male101323
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Experimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education GroupTotal
American Indian or Alaska Native000
Asian000
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander000
Black or African American235
White221941
More than one race011
Unknown or Not Reported011
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Experimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education GroupTotal
United States242448
Glycemic Control (A1C)
Glycemic Control (A1C)(percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin)Experimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education GroupTotal
Mean8.60 ± 0.869.00 ± 1.078.81 ± 0.99
Positive Affect
Positive Affect(score on a scale)Experimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education GroupTotal
Mean40.3 ± 7.941.2 ± 9.040.8 ± 8.4
Frequency of Blood Glucose Monitoring
Frequency of Blood Glucose Monitoring(number of blood glucose checks)Experimental: Positive Psychology InterventionActive Comparator: Education GroupTotal
Mean3.5 ± 1.43.2 ± 1.43.2 ± 1.4

6 further baseline measures are reported on the registry.

08

Study locations

1 site
  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center
    Nashville, Tennessee 37203, United States
09

References and documents

Study documents

  • Statistical analysis plan · Oct 12, 2016
  • Study protocol · Oct 12, 2016

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 24, 2019, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02984709
Responsible party
Sarah Jaser (Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Dec 7, 2016
Start date
Oct 2016
Primary completion
Feb 24, 2017
Completion
Aug 10, 2017
Results posted
Apr 24, 2019
Last update
Apr 24, 2019

Study contacts

Sarah Jaser, PhD
principal investigator · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2019. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion