Beneficial or Fostering Future Struggles (B.F.F.s)? Characterizing the Role of Friends in the Development of 13- to 17-Year-Old Adolescents

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate how the friendship experiences of maltreated (i.e., abused and/or neglected) and non-maltreated adolescents differentially influence their risk for adverse outcomes. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. How do the friendships of maltreated adolescents differ from those of non-maltreated adolescents? 2. Which friendship experiences influence the associations between maltreatment and ability to regulate stress, as well as future mental health difficulties and revictimization? Participants will: * Attend the initial study visit on the campus of the University of South Carolina with their primary caregiver and a best friend during which they will: * Complete study questionnaires * Be connected to a device that records their physical ability to manage stress * Complete a task during which they will be audio and video recorded and complete a brief assessment rating how they are feeling at different times during task completion * Depending on which research group they are placed in, be assigned to discuss their experience doing this task with their friend (intervention group) or sit quietly in a room for 5 minutes (comparison group) * The follow-up study visit will involve completion of study questionnaires online or via mail 6 months later Additionally, the participant's caregiver and friend will complete study questionnaires. Researchers will compare the intervention group (debriefs with a friend) and comparison group (sits quietly for 5 minutes) to see if the presence of and discussion with the friend influences their physical ability to regulate stress and future outcomes.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

* 13 to 17 years old at first study visit
* Qualify as either maltreated (endorses history of maltreatment - physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment, or neglect and/or has substantiated record of child maltreatment per Department of Social Services \[DSS\] records) or non-maltreated (denies history of maltreatment and/or no substantiated record of child maltreatment per DSS records)
* Parent participating in the study visit is a non-offending caregiver (no record of substantiated maltreatment against the adolescent participant)
* Participant identifies a best friend who is not a sibling or previous/current romantic partner who can accompany them to the study visit
* Participant, caregiver, and friend are fluent in written and spoken English

Exclusion Criteria:

* \<13 or \>17 at time of first study visit
* No available non-offending parent or guardian/caregiver to participate in the study
* No best friend identified to accompany the participant to the study
* Participant, caregiver, or friend is not fluent in written and spoken English

Conditions6

Locations1 site

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