title: A longitudinal evaluation of the Resilient Families randomized trial to prevent early adolescent depressive symptoms.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate whether an intervention prevented the development of depressive symptoms through the early years of secondary school (Grades 7 to 9 - mean ages 12.3 to 14.5 years) in Victoria, Australia. Twelve schools were randomized to a universal preventative intervention (including a student social relationship/emotional health curriculum, and parent/caregiver parenting education); 12 were randomized as control schools. Multivariate regression analyses used student self-report to predict depressive symptoms at 26-month follow-up (13-months after intervention completion) from baseline measures and intervention status (N = 2027). There was no overall intervention effect on depressive symptoms. However, intervention students with moderate symptoms whose parents attended parent education events had a significantly reduced risk of depressive symptoms at follow-up. Future evaluations of interventions of this type should investigate: therapeutic processes; methods to increase recruitment into effective parent education events; and the potential to target assistance to students with high depressive symptoms.
authors: Deakin University, Prevention Sciences, School of Psychology and Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Geelong 3220, Australia. Electronic address: jason.buttigieg@monash.edu.
authors: Jason P
authors: JP
authors: Buttigieg
authors: Centre for Adolescent Health, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Australia.
authors: Alison L
authors: AL
authors: Shortt
authors: Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn 3122, Australia.
authors: Tania M
authors: TM
authors: Slaviero
authors: School of Psychology and Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, Burwood 3125, Australia; National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.
authors: Delyse
authors: D
authors: Hutchinson
authors: School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and Research Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Kremer
authors: Deakin University, Prevention Sciences, School of Psychology and Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Geelong 3220, Australia.
authors: John W
authors: JW
authors: Toumbourou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Adolescence; Depression; Depressive symptoms; Family intervention; Longitudinal; Trial