Influence of general self-efficacy on the effects of a school-based universal primary prevention program of depressive symptoms in adolescents: a randomized and controlled follow-up study

• Published in: Journal of child psychology and psychiatry 2005-09, Vol.46 (9), p.982-994
• Main Authors: Pössel, Patrick, Baldus, Christiane, Horn, Andrea B., Groen, Gunter, Hautzinger, Martin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescence; Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Behavior Modification; Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Child psychology; Cognitive behaviour therapy; Cognitive Restructuring; Cognitive Therapy; cognitive-behavioral intervention; Control Groups; Correlation; Depression; Depression (Psychology); Depression - diagnosis; Depression - prevention & control; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Followup Studies; Germany; Health Education; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mental depression; Mental Health; Mental health care; Mood disorders; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); Prevention; Prevention programs; Primary Prevention; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Randomized controlled trials; School Health Services; Self Efficacy; Social Adjustment; Social Networks; Social Support; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Treatments; universal prevention
• ISSN: 0021-9630; 1469-7610
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00395.x

Background:  Depressive disorders in adolescents are a widespread and increasing problem. Prevention seems a promising and feasible approach. Methods:  We designed a cognitive‐behavioral school‐based universal primary prevention program and followed 347 eighth‐grade students participating in a randomized controlled trial for three months. Results:  In line with our hypothesis, participants in the prevention program remained on a low level of depressive symptoms, having strong social networks. The control group showed increasing depressive symptoms and a reduced social network. Contrary to our expectations, students low in self‐efficacy benefited more from the program than high self‐efficient students. Social network did not mediate the relationship between participation in the prevention program and changes in depressive symptoms. Conclusions:  Our results show that the prevention program had favorable effects. Further research is needed to explore the impact of self‐efficacy on the effects of prevention programs.