Development of an Intervention for Managing Adolescent Anxiety Using Community-Based Participatory Methods: Protocol

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health Interventions
• Community-Based Participatory Research

Background:

• Urban youth of color experience disproportionately high anxiety due to systemic inequities and lack of accessible mental health services.
• Existing mental health interventions are often not tailored to the specific needs of this demographic.
• Community-based participatory research (CBPR) offers a framework for developing culturally relevant and effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a protocol for an anxiety prevention intervention specifically designed for urban youth of color.
• To utilize community-based participatory research methods in the development and implementation of the intervention.
• To address the gap in accessible and culturally relevant mental health support for this population.

Main Methods:

• A 5-session intervention co-developed with community partners and a youth advisory board.
• Intervention content includes psychoeducation, coping skills, and role-playing, delivered by trained facilitators with community representation.
• Pilot study enrolling 30-50 high school students, separated by sex, measuring anxiety reduction using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• The pilot intervention is part of a larger study (Sept 2020 - Aug 2025) with enrollment beginning May 2025.
• The intervention is expected to reduce anxiety in a high-risk group of urban youth of color.
• Strategies to enhance facilitator fidelity are implemented to ensure adherence to the intervention model.

Conclusions:

• This study demonstrates the development of a novel anxiety intervention using a CBPR approach.
• Findings will inform a larger clinical trial and contribute to knowledge on mental health accessibility for marginalized youth.
• The intervention model holds potential for scalability to other underresourced communities.