Exploring the Effectiveness of the FRIENDS Program in Reducing Anxiety Symptoms Among South African Children

Abstract

The prevalence of anxiety symptoms among South African children is reported to be significantly higher than in other parts of the world. The need for an effective anxiety prevention and early intervention program for use with South African children is urgently needed. The aim of the present study was therefore to determine whether the Australian FRIENDS program could effectively reduce the anxiety symptoms, as measured by the Spence Children's Anxiety scale (SCAS), among a sample of South African children from low socioeconomic background. The program evaluation employed a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group design that followed participants (N = 46) over a course of 10 months. Within group effects and between group effects revealed that the FRIENDS program had little statistically significant postintervention effect on the anxiety symptoms of this sample, but had significant effects in the longer term, at 4 months and 6 months follow-up. The implications of these results for the South African context are discussed.

School-based prevention of anxiety and depression: a pilot study in Sweden

“…Mostert & Loxton, 2008) where significant changes in anxiety symptoms are only visible at follow-up showing a sleeper effect. Previous research on FRIENDS for Life programme has generally shown a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms.…”

“…; Lowry-Webster, , with gains maintained at three-year follow-up (Barrett, Farrell, Ollendick, & Dadds, 2006; Lowry-Webster, . Mostert and Loxton (2008) conducted a study with 12-year-old children from South Africa and found a significant reduction in anxiety for those receiving the programme. Stallard et al (2005) evaluated the programme implemented by school nurses in the UK.…”

The FRIENDS Emotional Health Program for Minority Groups at Risk

“…The FRIENDS program has been tested in clinical settings, as well as in the school environment . Over the years, in line with the positive psychology movement, the author of the program shifted its focus from treating anxiety disorders in clinical settings, to a universal intervention delivered in school to promote general emotional health . Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of the FRIENDS program and results have shown improvements in participant's self‐concept, social skills, and coping skills …”

Reaching out for people in need: promotion of emotional resilience for children in disadvantaged communities

“…The FRIENDS program is an intervention that has been widely implemented over the last twenty years as a school-based universal prevention program to promote students' general social and emotional development (Barrett & Turner, 2001;Lowry-Webster et al, 2001;Lowry-Webster et al, 2003;Mostert & Loxton, 2008). Despite the effectiveness of interventions, such as the FRIENDS program, many schools experience significant geographical challenges to access the necessary training to deliver the programs or interventions.…”

“…The FRIENDS program has been tested in clinical settings (Barrett, 1998;Barrett, Dadds, & Rapee, 1996;Barrett, Duffy, et al, 2001;Farrell, Barrett, & Claassens, 2005;Shortt et al, 2001) and in the school environment (Barrett, Lock, & Farrell, 2005;. Over the years, in line with the positive psychology movement, Dr. Barrett shifted its focus from treating anxiety disorders in clinical settings to a universal intervention that was delivered in schools to promote positive emotional health (Barrett & Turner, 2001;Lowry-Webster et al, 2001; Lowry-Webster, Mostert & Loxton, 2008). Several studies have been conducted in schools to evaluate the impact of the FRIENDS program and results have shown improvements in participant's self-concept (Stallard et al, 2005;Stallard et al, 2008;Stallard et al, 2007), social skills (Liddle & Macmillan, 2010), and coping skills (Stopa et al, 2010).…”