Implementing the Bounce Back trauma intervention in urban elementary schools: A real-world replication trial

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychology
• Trauma-Informed Care
• School-Based Interventions

Background:

• Trauma exposure significantly impacts elementary students' mental health.
• Evidence-based interventions are crucial for mitigating trauma's effects.
• Replication studies are vital for validating intervention efficacy across diverse settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To replicate the Bounce Back intervention in a new school district.
• To evaluate the intervention's effectiveness in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and improving coping skills.
• To assess the intervention's impact on depression and anxiety symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial design was employed.
• 52 elementary students (1st-4th grade) participated.
• Schools were assigned to immediate or waitlist control conditions.

Main Results:

• The immediate treatment group showed significant reductions in child-reported PTSD and improvements in parent-reported coping.
• No significant differential effects were observed for depression or anxiety.
• Sustained positive effects on PTSD and coping were noted at follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Bounce Back is an effective school-based intervention for reducing PTSD symptoms and enhancing coping skills in elementary students.
• The intervention demonstrates efficacy even in populations with high trauma exposure and ongoing stressors.
• Findings support the broader implementation of Bounce Back in diverse school settings.