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Effectiveness of a pragmatic school-based universal intervention targeting student resilience protective factors in
Julia Dray1, Jenny Bowman2, Elizabeth Campbell3
1Faculty of Science and IT, School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Hunter New England Population Health Research Group, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2310, Australia.
Abstract:
Worldwide, 10-20% of adolescents experience mental health problems. Strategies aimed at strengthening resilience protective factors provide a potential approach for reducing mental health problems in adolescents. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a universal, school-based intervention targeting resilience protective factors in reducing mental health problems in adolescents. A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in 20 intervention and 12 control secondary schools located in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of NSW, Australia. Data were collected from 3115 students at baseline (Grade 7, 2011), of whom 2149 provided data at follow up (Grade 10, 2014; enrolments in Grades 7 to 10 typically aged 12-16 years; 50% male; 69.0% retention). There were no significant differences between groups at follow-up for three mental health outcomes: total SDQ, internalising problems, and prosocial behaviour. A small statistically significant difference in favour of the control group was found for externalising problems. Findings highlight the continued difficulties in developing effective, school-based prevention programs for mental health problems in adolescents.
Trial Registration:
ANZCTR (Ref no: ACTRN12611000606987).