Development of an Empirically Based Preventive Intervention for Depression in Preadolescent African American Girls

Abstract

We describe the development, feasibility, and acceptability of a novel preventive intervention for depression in African American girls living in urban poverty. Our approach targeted individual and interpersonal vulnerabilities that have been shown to confer risk for depression in samples of African American girls living in low-income, urban settings, including suppression of negative emotion and lack of assertiveness with peers, memory for positive emotion, active coping, and family connection. Focus groups and an open trial were conducted to refine the goals and mechanisms for skill building. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the new program (Cities Mother-Daughter Project) was conducted with 3rd–5th grade students from Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Three cycles of screening, randomization, and deployment were conducted to assess feasibility, satisfaction, and usability. Results indicate that feasibility was weak; whereas, satisfaction and usability were high. Future directions for testing efficacy are discussed.

Psychic suffering and depression in black children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis

“…These events generate resilience levels that affect mental health, especially in the black population (13,14). Gender issues should also be assessed as risk factors for psychic suffering: women are more prone to the development of depression that is also associated with low income and exposure to violence (15)(16)(17).…”

Risk and protective factors associated with depression in young people: what do Nigerian university students know?

“…It aims to strengthen the coping mechanisms of individuals who are at risk of depression. 18 Effective interventions among university students would require the identification of causal risk factors for depression. 19 The knowledge of protective factors would be beneficial in the fight against depression.…”