A longitudinal evaluation of the Resilient Families randomized trial to prevent early adolescent depressive symptoms
Corresponding Author
Jason P. Buttigieg
Deakin University, Prevention Sciences, School of Psychology and Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Geelong, 3220 Australia
∗Corresponding author. School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia. Tel.: +61 3 9905 3968; fax: +61 3 9905 3948.Search for more papers by this authorAlison L. Shortt
Centre for Adolescent Health, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 Australia
Search for more papers by this authorTania M. Slaviero
Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, 3122 Australia
Search for more papers by this authorDelyse Hutchinson
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
Search for more papers by this authorPeter Kremer
School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and Research Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, Geelong, 3220 Australia
Search for more papers by this authorJohn W. Toumbourou
Deakin University, Prevention Sciences, School of Psychology and Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Geelong, 3220 Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Jason P. Buttigieg
Deakin University, Prevention Sciences, School of Psychology and Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Geelong, 3220 Australia
∗Corresponding author. School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia. Tel.: +61 3 9905 3968; fax: +61 3 9905 3948.Search for more papers by this authorAlison L. Shortt
Centre for Adolescent Health, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 Australia
Search for more papers by this authorTania M. Slaviero
Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, 3122 Australia
Search for more papers by this authorDelyse Hutchinson
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
Search for more papers by this authorPeter Kremer
School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and Research Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, Geelong, 3220 Australia
Search for more papers by this authorJohn W. Toumbourou
Deakin University, Prevention Sciences, School of Psychology and Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Geelong, 3220 Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
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.
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