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VIPeerAgent for Adolescent Mental Health
Sponsor: Sun Yat-sen University
Summary
This three-arm parallel randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of VIPeerAgent, a virtual peer support agent, in improving mental health outcomes among adolescents and young adults aged 14-25 years experiencing psychological distress without a diagnosed mental disorder. Participants will be randomized to receive support from VIPeerAgent, a human peer mentor, or usual care. The study will assess whether VIPeerAgent is non-inferior to human peer support and superior to usual care in promoting mental health. Outcomes include mental health status, psychological resilience, coping strategies, perceived social support, and emotional intelligence. The findings will provide evidence for the effectiveness and scalability of AI-assisted peer support as an early intervention approach for youth mental health.
Official title: Efficacy of VIPeerAgent for Mental Health Intervention in Adolescents: A Three-Arm Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial With Non-Inferiority and Superiority Testing
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
14 Years - 25 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
234
Start Date
2026-08-20
Completion Date
2026-12-10
Last Updated
2026-08-26
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Virtual Peer Agent Intervention
Participants in the VIPeerAgent group will engage in multi-turn conversations with the virtual peer agent. The intervention focuses on providing psychological support in three key areas: emotional awareness and regulation, social support enhancement, and coping strategy development. At the end of each interaction, VIPeerAgent will guide participants in developing an individualized and actionable to-do list based on their personal needs and goals.
Human peer mentor
Participants in the human peer mentor group will receive support from trained peer mentors. The intervention components are comparable to those delivered by VIPeerAgent and include peer support consultations, enhanced follow-up, individualized action planning through to-do lists, and personalized supportive messages.
Locations (1)
School of Nursing, Sun Yat-Sen University
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China