The efficacy of a universal school-based program to prevent adolescent depression.
Evaluated whether a universal school-based program, designed to prevent depression in adolescents, could be effectively implemented within the constraints of the school environment. Participants were 260 Year 9 secondary school students. Students completed measures of depressive symptoms and hopelessness and were then assigned to 1 of 3 groups: (a) Resourceful Adolescent Program-Adolescents (RAP-A), an 11-session school-based resilience building program, as part of the school curriculum; (b) Resourceful Adolescent Program-Family (RAP-F), the same program as in RAP-A, but in which each student's parents were also invited to participate in a 3-session parent program; and (c) Adolescent Watch, a comparison group in which adolescents simply completed the measures. The program was implemented with a high recruitment (88%), low attrition rate (5.8%), and satisfactory adherence to program protocol. Adolescents in either of the RAP programs reported significantly lower levels of depressive symptomatology and hopelessness at post-intervention and 10-month follow-up, compared with those in the comparison group. Adolescents also reported high satisfaction with the program. The study provides evidence for the efficacy of a school-based universal program designed to prevent depression in adolescence.
Shochet
I M
IM
School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia 4111. i.shochet@mailbox.gu.edu.au
Dadds
M R
MR
Holland
D
D
Whitefield
K
K
Harnett
P H
PH
Osgarby
S M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D012720:Severity of Illness Index