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Cited by 963Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentSchool Health and Nursing EducationChild Therapy and Development

Primary prevention mental health programs for children and adolescents: A meta-analytic review

Durlak, Joseph A., Wells, Anne M.·1997·American Journal of Community Psychology
DOI 10.1023/a:1024654026646
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Abstract

Used meta-analysis to review 177 primary prevention programs designed to prevent behavioral and social problems in children and adolescents. Findings provide empirical support for further research and practice in primary prevention. Most categories of programs produced outcomes similar to or higher in magnitude than those obtained by many other established preventive and treatment interventions in the social sciences and medicine. Programs modifying the school environment, individually focused mental health promotion efforts, and attempts to help children negotiate stressful transitions yield significant mean effects ranging from 0.24 to 0.93. In practical terms, the average participant in a primary prevention program surpasses the performance of between 59% to 82% of those in a control group, and outcomes reflect an 8% to 46% difference in success rates favoring prevention groups. Most categories of programs had the dual benefit of significantly reducing problems and significantly increasing competencies. Priorities for future research include clearer specification of intervention procedures and program goals, assessment of program implementation, more follow-up studies, and determining how characteristics of the intervention and participants relate to different outcomes.

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Crossref · 10.1023/a:1024654026646

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  • Individually focused mental health promotion efforts and attempts to help negotiate stressful transitions yield significant mean effects on reducing problems and increasing competencies.

    “Evidence from a review evaluating primary prevention mental health programs for adolescents suggests that individually focused mental health promotion efforts and attempts to help negotiate stressful transitions yield significant mean effects on reducing problems and increasing competencies [32].”

    From Interventions for Adolescent Mental Health: An Overview of Systematic Reviews (2016) · cites this paper as [32]

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Authors
Durlak, J. A., & Wells, A. M.
Affiliations
Loyola University Chicago (US)
ORCID
Durlak, Joseph A.
Venue
American Journal of Community Psychology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1997-04
Volume
25
Issue
2
Pages
115-152
ISSN
  • 0091-0562 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2770
DOI
10.1023/a:1024654026646
OpenAlex
W2140854225
Cited by
963
References
194
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 55 · 2014: 48 · 2013: 41 · 2012: 53
FWCI
8.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • American Journal of Community Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › School Health and Nursing Education
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Therapy and Development
Keywords
primary prevention, mental health programs, children, adolescents, behavioral problems, social problems, school environment, mental health promotion, intervention effectiveness, program implementation
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Child, Child Behavior Disorders, Child Health Services, Child, Preschool, Humans, Mental Health Services, Primary Prevention, Research Design, Social Problems, Adolescent Health Services, Treatment Outcome

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