Be REAL Youth Study

The Center for Child and Family Well-Being (CCFW) at the University of Washington is collaborating with community organizations that work with youth to offer and evaluate the Be REAL program for high-school-aged youth. We are asking high-school-age teens to participate in a study evaluating whether Be REAL supports better mental health in youth.

Be REAL (REsilient Attitudes and Living) is a 9-hour program that is typically offered over six sessions. The program promotes the well-being of youth by equipping them with skills to manage emotions and cope with challenging situations, mindfulness to strengthen self-awareness, and practices that promote compassion for themselves and others.  

As a someone taking part in a Be REAL group, you can join the study which evaluates the impact of the Be REAL program on your well-being. To take part in the study and get up to $150 in gift codes, you are invited to complete several steps which are outlined in the get started section below. 

Once you complete the steps to enroll in the study you will be invited to complete three confidential online surveys that take about 20-25 minutes each to complete. A survey will be sent to you before your group starts, at the end of your group, and 3 months after your Be REAL group ends. You will receive a $45 Tango E-card for completing the first survey, $50 for the second one, and $55 for the third one (up to $150 for completing all three).

You can redeem your Tango gift cards at many restaurants and stores including GameStop, Nike, Adidas, and Starbucks. To view the full list of rewards, click here.

We create practical solutions for children, youth, and families to be resilient and thriving. This includes the Be REAL program for teens, which is designed to improve student well-being. In the Be REAL program your teen(s) will spend time learning a combination of stress management, coping and mindfulness skills. They will learn:

• Skills to reduce stress and manage emotions
• Tools for coping with difficult situations
• How to improve their focus during academics, sports, and other activities
• To practice gentle stretching, breathing practices, and guided meditations

The participation of your teen(s) in our study will help us to improve and expand well-being programs that we are able to offer to other high-school-age youth. All interested teens must be between the ages of 14-19 and teens under 18 must have parent consent to participate in the study.

If you are interested in other research we have done on the Be REAL program with college students and staff, you can see more information on the “Publications” section of the Be REAL website.

Want to sign up for the Be REAL Youth Study? Follow these steps to get started:

Step 1: The leader running your Be REAL program will share a link to the study enrollment form so that you can sign up if you are interested.

Step 2: If you are 18 or older you will be taken to a consent form to complete, immediately followed by the first survey, which will take about 20-25 minutes.

If you are under 18 and complete your enrollment form, your parent/guardian will also be sent a consent form to complete. The consent must be complete before you can receive the first survey. As soon as your parent/guardian completes the consent form, you will then receive an email with a link to your own consent form and first survey.

Step 3: Complete the survey before your Be REAL group begins to qualify for your $45 gift code. Your gift code will be emailed to you within 7 days.

Step 4: You will be sent a second survey link after the program ends. The third survey will be sent 3 months after the class ends. You will receive a $50 gift code for the second survey and a $55 gift code for the third survey.

For more information about Be REAL for Youth contact Kizz at Prusik@uw.edu

For more information about the study contact: Autumn at ccfwoutreach@uw.edu