An interventional study of Peer support groups with a solution-focused approach in Bullying, sponsored by Oslo Metropolitan University. Completed at 1 site in Norway. Open to participants aged 10 Years to 12 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-27.
Sponsored by Oslo Metropolitan University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Health services research
Study Title: Support Groups - a model for social inclusion and reduction of bullying in school Study Design: Cluster Randomized Controlled trial (CRCT) Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a support group intervention using a solution-focused approach among school children in 5th-7th grade in southeastern Norway Intervention: Peer support groups with a solution-focused approach Study Population: School Children
The primary objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a support group intervention using a solution-focused approach in reducing bullying, enhancing mental health, improving quality of life, and increasing general self-efficacy among school children in 5th-7th grade. Investigators hypothesize that the awareness of bullying created by the intervention, and the empowerment of children as contributors to the solution, will generate positive ripple effects benefiting all children in the intervention schools. Furthermore, investigators hypothesize that children with a peer support group will exhibit lower levels of bullying, improved mental health, better quality of life, and increased general self-efficacy after the intervention compared to their baseline levels. Investigators expect these effects to persist even after 3 and 6 months. Aligned with the cluster RCT, the investigators will undertake a parallel process evaluation to assess the extent of the intervention coverage, whether the intervention was implemented according to the protocol, and identify factors that hinder or aid the implementation of a support group intervention. For the process evaluation, investigators will use the framework presented by the Medical Research Council guidelines focusing on the implementation (what is implemented and how), the mechanisms of impact (how the delivered intervention produces change), and the context (how the context affects implementation and outcomes).
57 studies on the registry are indexed under Bullying; 9 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 3,188 is above the median of 228 across 51 interventional studies indexed under Bullying.
Browse Bullying studies →Oslo Metropolitan University is the lead sponsor of 64 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
The intervention schools will use the Support Group intervention regarding bullying and exclusion.
Behavioral: Peer support groups with a solution-focused approach
The control schools will implement the same measures as they normally do regarding bullying and exclusion.
To investigate the effectiveness of a support group intervention using a solution-focused approach among school children in 5th-7th grade in southeastern Norway
Bullying- change from baseline in bullying using the Olweus questionnaire at end of intervention, 3 months and 6 months after end of intervention on individual level at intervention schools.
The Olweus questionnaire is a validated self-reported questionnaire that may be answered from ; Not at all (no bullying), one or seldom, 2-3 times in the months or about one times a week or more (worst possible bullying score) (Olweus, 2013).
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 18 and Week 32
Mental health- change from baseline in mental health using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ), at end of intervention, 3 months and 6 months after end of intervention on individual level at intervention schools.
The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) is a validated self-reported questionnaire which consists of 25-items (Goodman, 1999). The questionnaires measure emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, pro-social behavior and impact score. The questionnaires may be answered form "not true" (lowest possible score) to "certainly true" (highest possible score). A high total difficulties score indicates that the individual is experiencing a high level of difficulties, while a low score indicates a low level of difficulties.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 18 and Week 32
Self-efficacy-change from baseline in self-efficacy using the General self-efficacy scale, at end of intervention, 3 months and 6 months after end of intervention on individual level at intervention schools.
The General self-efficacy scale is a self-administered form with five response categories from "Completely agrees to "not agrees". The scale measures the belief in self-efficacy. Highest scores indicate best self-efficacy (Bandura, 1997).
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 18 and Week 32
Quality of life-change from baseline in quality of life using the Kidscreen -10, 4 months after baseline, end of intervention and 6 months after end of intervention in both intervention and control schools in 5th to 7th grade on class level.
The KIDSCREEN-10 index is the shortest version of the KIDSCREEN questionnaires and measures general health-related quality of life (Detmar, Bruil, Ravens-Sieberer, Gosch \& Bisegger, 2006). Possible scores range from "not at all" or "never" (lowest possible score) to "a high degree" or "always" (highest possible score).
Time frame: Baseline, Week 17, Week 30 and Week 56
Class environment- change from baseline using the Norwegian student survey (Elevundersøkelsen), 4 months, end of intervention and 6 months after end of intervention in both intervention and control schools in 5th to 7th grade on class level.
To measure class environment all children in 5th to 7th grade will complete the Norwegian student survey (Elevundersøkelsen, UDIR 2023). The survey which asking among other things about bullying and inclusion in the school environment and peer relationship.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 17, Week 30 and Week 56
PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Plan to share: No
Ran from Nov 2024 to primary completion in May 2026, 18 months.
Of 36 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Bullying, half reached primary completion within 10 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 3 and three quarters within 18. This study's 18 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 40 studies reached it within 11 months; a quarter within 4 and three quarters within 20.
Since we started tracking on Sep 25, 2026, the dates moved once, on Oct 27, 2026: primary completion Dec 2025 → May 2026 and completion Aug 2028 → May 2026.
Earlier changes are on the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Oslo Metropolitan University