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A pilot investigation of universal school‐based prevention programs for anxiety and depression symptomology in children: A randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Johnstone Kristy M.,
Middleton Tracey,
Kemps Eva,
Chen Junwen
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.22926
Subject(s) - worry , anxiety , psychology , randomized controlled trial , clinical psychology , depression (economics) , psychological resilience , psychiatry , medicine , psychotherapist , surgery , economics , macroeconomics
Objective The current study aimed to provide a preliminary evaluation of two universal school‐based prevention programs, Emotion Regulation (ER) and Behavioral Activation (BA), by increasing resilience to manage excessive worry, a transdiagnostic feature across anxiety and depression. Method Primary school children ( N = 295; 52.5% female; 8–13 years) from five Australian schools were cluster randomized to an ER, BA or usual class control condition. Outcome measures included resilience, worry, anxiety, and depression symptomology; ER and BA were measured as potential mediators. Participants completed measures at pre‐ and postprogram, and at 6‐month follow‐up. Results Children in the BA condition showed increased resilience at 6 months. Expressive suppression mediated the effects of both programs on worry. Conclusion The current study aimed to provide a preliminary evaluation of two universal school‐based prevention programs, ER and BA, by increasing resilience to manage excessive worry, a transdiagnostic feature across anxiety and depression.