Efficacy of the Aussie Optimism Program: promoting pro-social behavior and preventing suicidality in primary school students. A randomised-controlled trial
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= 2288) from 63 government primary schools in Perth, Western Australia, participated in the pre, post, and follow-up study. Schools were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: Aussie Optimism with teacher training, Aussie Optimism with teacher training plus coaching, or a usual care condition that received the regular Western Australian Health Education Curriculum. Students in the Aussie Optimism conditions received 20, 1-h lessons relating to social and interpersonal skills and optimistic thinking skills over the last 2 years of primary school. Parents in the active conditions received a parent information booklet each year, plus a self-directed program in Grade 7. Students and parents completed the Extended Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Students who scored in the clinical range on the Emotional Symptoms Scale were given The Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents IV, to assess suicidal ideation and behavior, and depressive and anxiety disorders. Results indicated that Aussie Optimism with teacher training plus coaching was associated with the best outcomes: a significant increase in student-reported pro-social behavior from pre-test to post-test 1 (maintained at post-test 2) and significantly lower incidence rates from suicidal ideation at post-test 2 and follow-up. No significant intervention effects on anxiety and depressive disorders, and total difficulties were reported. These findings suggest that the AOP with teacher training along with coaching may have the potential to positively impact on suicidality and pro-social behavior in the pre-adolescent years.
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Nawaz 2023 provided only a narrative summary of the interventions and included two trials that were common to our review (Fukumori 2017; Roberts 2017).
“The review authors provided only a narrative summary of the interventions and included two trials that were common to our review (Fukumori 2017; Roberts 2017).”
From Prevention of self-harm and suicide in young people up to the age of 25 in education settings (2024) · cites this paper as Roberts 2017
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References 43 · Cited by 36
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- Kendall P. (2006). Child and Adolescent Therapy. Cognitive-Behavioural Procedures 3rd Edn. New York, NY: Guildford Press.
- Pierangelo R. Giuliani G. (2008). Classroom Management Techniques for Students with ADHD: A Step-by-Step Guide for Educators. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
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- Authors
- Roberts, C. M., Kane, R. T., Rooney, R. M., Pintabona, Y., Baughman, N., Hassan, S., Cross, D., Zubrick, S. R., & Silburn, S. R.
- Affiliations
- Curtin University (AU)
- Edith Cowan University (AU)
- The Kids Research Institute Australia (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Kane, Robert T.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Frontiers in Psychology
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2018-02-26
- Volume
- 8
- Pages
- 1392-1392
- ISSN
- 1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5863632
- OpenAlex
- W2751323551
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 4.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Australasian Journal of Paramedicine (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- eSpace (Curtin University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Australian Research Council (LPO347559)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- prosocial behavior, suicidal ideation, optimism, teacher professional development, coaching, elementary school students, late childhood, emotional symptoms, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, school-based intervention, parental involvement
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