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Effectiveness of a Universal School-Based Intervention for Reducing Internalizing Problems in Irish Primary School Children: A Cluster Randomized Control Trial
- Source :
-
School Psychology International . 2024 45(5):495-521. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental health concerns in youth, with rates of these internalizing problems continuing to rise. Universal school-based interventions have shown promising results in improving poor mental health outcomes; however, more research is needed across different cultural contexts. This study is part of an ongoing evaluation of "A Lust for Life Schools Programme," a universal process-based cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for Irish primary school children. This study investigated the efficacy of the program through a cluster randomized controlled trial. Nine schools were randomly allocated to the intervention or control groups. Four hundred and seventy participants completed measures at three timepoints (baseline, post-intervention, and 6-week follow-up) assessing internalizing problems, anxiety, and depressive symptoms (primary outcomes) and avoidance, problem-solving, seeking social support, academic self-efficacy, social self-efficacy, and emotional self-efficacy (secondary outcomes). Although participants reported that they were mostly satisfied with the intervention, results revealed that the intervention did not have a significant effect on the outcome variables compared to the control group. Implications of the findings and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0143-0343 and 1461-7374
- Volume :
- 45
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- ERIC
- Journal :
- School Psychology International
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- EJ1440337
- Document Type :
- Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/01430343231216971