Effect of a universal anxiety prevention programme ( FRIENDS ) on children's academic performance: results from a randomised controlled trial
Open accessAbstract
Background: Evaluations of school‐based anxiety prevention programmes have reported improvements in psychological functioning although little is known about their effect upon educational outcomes. Methods: One thousand three hundred and sixty‐two children from 40 primary schools in England took part in the randomised controlled trial, Preventing Anxiety in Children through Education in Schools. The trial investigated the effectiveness of a universal school‐based cognitive behaviour therapy prevention programme, FRIENDS , delivered by health care staff or school staff compared with usual personal, social, health and education ( PSHE ) lessons. Self‐report psychological outcomes and educational attainment on national standardised attainment tests in reading, writing and maths were collected 12 months postintervention. Analysis was performed at individual level using multivariable mixed effect models controlling for gender, type of intervention and school effect. Registered trial: ISRCTN : 23563048. Results: At 12 months, anxiety reduced in the health‐led FRIENDS group compared to school‐led FRIENDS and PSHE . There were no between‐group differences in academic performance regardless of gender, deprivation, ethnicity and additional educational needs. Conclusions: School‐based mental health interventions should assess psychological and educational outcomes. Further research should directly compare the effects of interventions led by health and school staff.
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In Skryabina et al.'s RCT, there were no intervention effects on math, reading, or writing standardized assessment test scores.
“There were no intervention effects on math, reading, or writing standardized assessment test scores.”
From Community Interventions to Promote Mental Health and Social Equity (2019) · cites this paper as [59]
In Skryabina et al.'s RCT, health-led FRIENDS was more effective in decreasing social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and total Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale scores compared to school-led FRIENDS and PSHE.
“Health-led FRIENDS was more effective in decreasing social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and total Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale scores as compared to school-led FRIENDS and PSHE.”
From Community Interventions to Promote Mental Health and Social Equity (2019) · cites this paper as [59]
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Community Interventions to Promote Mental Health and Social Equity
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- Authors
- Skryabina, E., Taylor, G., & Stallard, P.
- Affiliations
- University of Bath (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Stallard, Paul
- Venue
- Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-07-18
- Volume
- 57
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1297-1307
- ISSN
- 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-7610
- PMC
- PMC5113703
- OpenAlex
- W2498535731
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 5.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Public Health Research Programme (09/3000/03)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › School Health and Nursing Education
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- anxiety prevention, school-based intervention, cognitive behavioral therapy, children's academic achievement, educational attainment, universal prevention, elementary school students, child mental health
- MeSH terms
- School Teachers, Adolescent, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Child, England, Female, Humans, Male, School Health Services, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Outcome Assessment, Health Care
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