Psychosocial Interventions to Prevent Anxiety Disorders in School Settings from 1985-2007: A Meta-Anaysis

Childhood anxiety disorders are a salient concern because they are associated with deviant conduct, substance abuse, and depression later in life. This meta-analysis focuses on the efficacy of psychosocial interventions in preventing anxiety disorders in children. A search of several databases covering 1985-2007 identified 19 peer-reviewed studies. Most of the studies were judged with "Low Risk of Bias". Results showed CBT to be the most effective psychosocial intervention (95% CI, 0.19 a 0.43), particularly when implemented at a selective prevention level (95% CI, 0.20 a 0.97). The protective factors to improve the most were positive future outlook (95% CI, 0.87 to 1.51) and self-esteem (95% CI, 0.87 a 1.51). Suggestions for further research and implications for practice are offered.