Systematic Review of Universal Resilience-Focused Interventions Targeting Child and Adolescent Mental Health in the School Setting
Julia Dray,Jenny Bowman,Elizabeth Campbell,Megan Freund,Luke Wolfenden,Rebecca K Hodder,Kathleen McElwaine,Danika Tremain,Kate Bartlem,Jacqueline Bailey,Tameka Small,Kerrin Palazzi,Christopher Oldmeadow,John Wiggers +13 more
TLDR
The findings may suggest most promise for using universal resilience-focused interventions at least for short-term reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms for children and adolescents, particularly if a cognitive-behavioral therapy-based approach is used.Abstract:
Objective To examine the effect of universal, school-based, resilience-focused interventions on mental health problems in children and adolescents. Method Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of universal, school-based interventions that included strategies to strengthen a minimum of 3 internal resilience protective factors, and included an outcome measure of mental health problems in children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years. Six databases were searched from 1995 to 2015. Results were pooled in meta-analyses by mental health outcome (anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, hyperactivity, conduct problems, internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and general psychological distress), for all trials (5−18 years). Subgroup analyses were conducted by age (child: 5−10 years; adolescent: 11−18 years), length of follow-up (short: post-≤12 months; long: >12 months), and gender (narrative). Results A total of 57 included trials were identified from 5,984 records, with 49 contributing to meta-analyses. For all trials, resilience-focused interventions were effective relative to a control in reducing 4 of 7 outcomes: depressive symptoms, internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and general psychological distress. For child trials (meta-analyses for 6 outcomes), interventions were effective for anxiety symptoms and general psychological distress. For adolescent trials (meta-analyses for 5 outcomes), interventions were effective for internalizing problems. For short-term follow-up, interventions were effective for 2 of 7 outcomes: depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms. For long-term follow-up (meta-analyses for 5 outcomes), interventions were effective for internalizing problems. Conclusion The findings may suggest most promise for using universal resilience-focused interventions at least for short-term reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms for children and adolescents, particularly if a cognitive-behavioral therapy−based approach is used. The limited number of trials providing data amenable for meta-analysis for some outcomes and subgroups, the variability of interventions, study quality, and bias mean that it is not possible to draw more specific conclusions. Identifying what intervention qualities (such as number and type of protective factor) achieve the greatest positive effect per mental health problem outcome remains an important area for future research. Systematic review protocol and registration Systematic Review of Universal Resilience Interventions Targeting Child and Adolescent Mental Health in the School Setting; http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13643-015-0172-6 ; PROSPERO CRD42015025908.read more
Citations
More filters
Child and adolescent mental health worldwide: evidence for action
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review the evidence and the gaps in the published work in terms of prevalence, risk and protective factors, and interventions to prevent and treat childhood and adolescent mental health problems.
Journal ArticleDOI
What factors are associated with resilient outcomes in children exposed to social adversity? A systematic review.
Deirdre Gartland,Elisha Riggs,Sumaiya Muyeen,Rebecca Giallo,Tracie O. Afifi,Harriet L. MacMillan,Helen Herrman,Eleanor Bulford,Stephanie Brown +8 more
TL;DR: There is some evidence that specific individual, relational and school factors are associated with resilient outcomes across a range of contexts and such factors provide an important starting point for effective public health interventions to promote resilience.
Journal ArticleDOI
Systematic review of resilience-enhancing, universal, primary school-based mental health promotion programs
TL;DR: Evidence is provided that mental health promotion programs that focus on resilience and coping skills have positive impacts on the students’ ability to manage daily stressors.
BookDOI
The Promise of Adolescence: Realizing Opportunity for All Youth
TL;DR: The authors examined the neurobiological and socio-behavioral science of adolescent development and outlined how this knowledge can be applied, both to promote adolescent well-being, resilience, and development, and to rectify structural barriers and inequalities in opportunity, enabling all adolescents to flourish.
References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
Differential effects of well-being promoting and anxiety-management strategies in a non-clinical school setting.
Elena Tomba,Carlotta Belaise,Fedra Ottolini,Chiara Ruini,Alessandra Bravi,Elisa Albieri,Chiara Rafanelli,Ernesto Caffo,Giovanni A. Fava,Giovanni A. Fava +9 more
TL;DR: In school children, well-being and symptom focused interventions produced slightly different effects on psychological dimensions, and WBT, by facilitating progression toward positive and optimal functioning, may integrate symptom-centered strategies.
Journal ArticleDOI
Evaluation of a preventive intervention for child anxiety in two randomized attention-control school trials.
TL;DR: The findings indicated that girls reported a higher level of anxiety than boys and children in higher grades reported lower anxiety relative to younger children in both studies, and similar patterns were found using a subgroup of children with high-anxiety symptoms from both studies.
Journal ArticleDOI
The prevention of anxiety and depression in children from disadvantaged schools.
TL;DR: A randomised controlled trial evaluated the Aussie Optimism Program in preventing anxiety and depression in disadvantaged government schools in Perth Western Australia and found the program acceptable.
Journal ArticleDOI
Preventing mental disorders in children: a systematic review to inform policy-making.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors systematically identified and reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on programs intended to prevent conduct disorder (CD), anxiety and depression in children aged 0-18 years.
Journal ArticleDOI
Enhancing the emotional and social skills of the youth to promote their wellbeing and positive development: a systematic review of universal school-based randomized controlled trials
Federica Sancassiani,Elisa Pintus,Arne Holte,Peter Paulus,Maria Francesca Moro,Giulia Cossu,Matthias C. Angermeyer,Mauro Giovanni Carta,Jutta Lindert +8 more
TL;DR: Universal school-based RCTs to enhance emotional and social skills showed controversial findings, Nevertheless they show promising outcomes that are relatively far-reaching for children and youth wellbeing and therefore are important in the real world.