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Cited by 178School Health and Nursing EducationChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentMental Health Treatment and Access

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 39 of the 39 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

School‐based prevention of depression: a randomised controlled study of the beyondblue schools research initiative

Sawyer, Michael G., Pfeiffer, Sara, Spence, Susan H., Bond, Lyndal, Graetz, Brian, Kay, Debra, Patton, George, Sheffield, Jeanie·2010·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
DOI 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02136.x
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Abstract

Background: Depressive disorders are experienced by 3–5% of the adolescent population at any point of time. They adversely affect adolescent development in a range of areas and greatly increase risk for suicide. The present study investigated the effectiveness of a universal intervention designed to reduce depressive symptoms among students commencing high school. Methods: Twenty‐five pairs of secondary schools matched on socio‐economic status were randomly assigned to either an intervention or a comparison group ( n = 5,634 Year 8 students). The intervention extended over a 3‐year period and utilised a comprehensive classroom curriculum programme, enhancements to the school climate, improvements in care pathways, and community forums. A range of measures completed by students, average age at baseline = 13.1 years ( SD = .5), and teachers was used to assess changes in depressive symptoms, risk and protective factors relevant to depression, and the quality of the school environment. Results: Changes in the level of depressive symptoms and in the levels of risk and protective factors experienced by students in the two groups did not differ significantly over the 3 years of the study. Furthermore, statistically significant differences in the ratings of school climate across this time period were found only for staff‐rated assessments. Conclusions: Despite using an extensive, structured programme, based on best evidence to increase protective factors and reduce risk factors at the individual and school levels, the intervention did not reduce levels of depressive symptoms among participating adolescents. The results draw attention to the difficulties faced when implementing large‐scale, school‐based, universal preventive interventions. These include the need to develop methods to effectively train teachers across large geographical regions to deliver new interventions with fidelity, the difficulty of engaging young adolescents with prevention programmes, and the long period of time required to implement policy and practice changes at ‘whole‐school’ levels.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02136.x

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Citations

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. beyondblue, 2007, beyondblue Schools Research Initiative
  2. Lerner R.M., 1986, Concepts and themes of human development
  3. Rashbash J., 2004, A User’s Guide to MLwiN Version 2.0

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Metadata

Authors
Sawyer, M. G., Pfeiffer, S., Spence, S. H., Bond, L., Graetz, B., Kay, D., Patton, G., & Sheffield, J.
Affiliations
  • Women's and Children's Health Network (AU)
  • Griffith University (AU)
  • MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit (GB)
  • Beyondblue (AU)
  • Smith Family (AU)
  • Royal Children's Hospital (AU)
  • The University of Queensland (AU)
Corresponding author
Sawyer, Michael G.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2010-01-04
Volume
51
Issue
2
Pages
199-209
ISSN
  • 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7610
DOI
10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02136.x
OpenAlex
W2117310129
Cited by
178
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 11
FWCI
26.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Victoria University Research Repository (Victoria University) (submittedVersion)
  • Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion)
  • Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Health and Medical Research Council
  • National Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › School Health and Nursing Education
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
adolescent depression, school-based prevention, universal prevention, depressive symptoms, school climate, protective factors, risk factors, high school students, intervention fidelity, teacher professional development, suicide prevention
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Preventive Health Services, Research, School Health Services, Social Behavior, Social Environment, Social Support, Socioeconomic Factors

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