Aims and benefits

START is a low-threshold and culturally integrative stabilization concept for children and adolescents with severe stress experiences, trauma sequelae and severe emotional stress. The structured therapy manual "START" was developed in the context of practical work with unaccompanied minor refugees in clearing and initial reception contexts and in the clinical care of child and adolescent psychiatry in Idar-Oberstein.

The START program will be tested for effectiveness in a larger randomized-controlled approach with more rigorous scientific framing and an adequate control group.

Primary aim:

Reduction in stress experience as measured by the PSS-10 (Perceived Stress Scale) from baseline measurement to completion of the intervention (T1) relative to the wait-list control group.

Co-primary aim: 

Reduction in posttraumatic symptomatology measured with the IES-R (Impact of Event Scale) between baseline and completion of the intervention (T1) relative to the wait-list control group.

Kontakt

Secretary
+49 6131 17 3281

Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und -psychotherapie
Langenbeckstraße 1
55131 Mainz

Universitätsmedizin Mainz

Project duration

Until 2023 (first quarter)

Projects

Planning
Implementation
Completion

SP1: Intervention for the initial stabilization of emotionally and psychologically stressed young refugees

Short description

Within the START project, an intervention for the initial stabilization of emotionally and psychologically severely stressed children and adolescents and underage refugees is being developed. The START training aims to help reduce stress and post-traumatic symptomatology, develop emotion regulation skills, and strengthen or even rebuild confidence in their own abilities.

Regardless of their country of origin, adolescent refugees can participate in this study if they are sufficiently fluent in one of the following languages:
German, English, Arabic, Dari, Somali.
Due to the current war in the Ukraine, adolescent refugees from Ukraine and neighboring countries can also participate in the study.

Location: Mainz

Refugees can participate: Yes
Target audience: Geflüchtete Jugendliche im Alter von 13-17 Jahren
Participate
Project details
Planning
Implementation
Completion

SP2: Evaluation of a program for refugee children and their parents

Short description

The integration of refugee families in the host country is also dependent on the successful integration of their children in the crèche. Within the framework of the START Childcare study, we would therefore like to investigate the effectiveness of a mentalization-based and attachment-oriented program for crèche children and their parents with a migration background and/or refugee experiences in the context of the familiarization phase in the crèches.

Location: Heidelberg

Refugees can participate: Yes
Target audience: Geflüchtete Eltern mit Kindern im Alter von 0-6 und Erzieher:innen
Participate
Project details
Planning
Implementation
Completion

SP3: Evaluation of an integrative group intervention in adolescents and young adults - a feasibility study

Short description

Subproject A3 realizes an 8-week group treatment targeting refugees with severe deficits in emotion regulation and management of everyday life. The START program covers training modules from different therapeutic approaches, including dialectic-behavioral therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and biofeedback. A3 evaluates the feasibility of the START program in adolescents and young adults (18-25 years).

Location: Mainz

Refugees can participate: Yes
Target audience: Geflüchtete im Alter von 18-25
Participate
Project details
Planning
Implementation
Completion

B1: Assessment of perceived stress in everyday life using e-diaries

Short description

In our subproject B1, we use a smartphone app to investigate the effectiveness of the START A1 intervention as well as perceived stress in the daily life of adolescent refugees. Compared to other assessment methods, electronic diaries have the advantage of mapping everyday experiences unbiased, dynamically, and in the context of intrapsychological and social processes.

Ort: Karlsruhe

Project details
Planning
Implementation
Completion

B2: Perceived stress, emotions, and mentalization in childcare workers – an e-diary study

Short description

Within subproject B2, we want to test the effectiveness of the START A2 intervention in strengthening mentalization skills in the everyday working environment of childcare workers (see START A2). Mentalization refers to the ability to understand one’s own behavior or the behavior of other persons in a particular situation. Data will be collected in the everyday occupational life of childcare workers using e-diaries.

Location: Karlsruhe

Project details