Prevention of internalizing disorders in 9–10 year old children: efficacy of the Aussie Optimism Positive Thinking Skills Program at 30-month follow-up

Abstract

The Aussie Optimism: Positive Thinking Skills Program (AOPTP) is a school-based prevention program aimed at addressing anxious and depressive symptoms in children aged 9-10 years. Nine-hundred and ten students from 22 Australian primary schools situated in low socio-economic areas were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group, and assessed at a 30-month follow up. Those in the intervention group received the AOPTP program, where the control group continued to receive the regular health education course. Students completed self-report measures regarding their levels of depression, anxiety, and attribution style. Parents also reported on their children's externalizing and internalizing problems outside of school. There were no significant differences between groups in regard to anxiety or depression, as well as no significant differences in attributional styles. Parents reported significantly less hyperactive behaviors from children in the intervention group. This finding suggests that AOP-PTS has the capacity to treat externalizing problems at a medium term effect. The decrease in the externalizing problems provides evidence of a partial medium term intervention effect. Future studies should continue to evaluate the program at a long term follow up.

The efficacy of the enhanced Aussie Optimism Positive Thinking Skills Program in improving social and emotional learning in middle childhood

“…The finding of reduced hyperactivity in the primary analysis was consistent with Rooney and colleague's findings (Morrison et al, 2013) and findings from the secondary analysis which found no significant difference between intervention and control children on parent reported Hyperactivity, Emotion, Conduct or Peer Relation problems were not consistent with Rooney et al (2013), Morrison et al (2013). On the other hand, the finding from the secondary analysis indicating an increase in peer-related problems was not consistent with Lacey et al (submitted).…”

Prevention of depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents: 42 and 54 months follow-up of the Aussie Optimism Program-Positive Thinking Skills

“…For the purposes of the current study, the combination of complex abstract material, delivered at an age of concrete cognitive style, in the absence of repeated opportunities to consolidate the skills, in conjunction with the small sample size due to attrition, may underlie the failure to observe any benefits from this program at 42 and 54 month follow-up. This is not to suggest that the program does not have the potential for effectiveness in minimising risk of internalizing disorders: indeed benefits were reported immediately at post-intervention, 6 and 30 months follow-up (Morrison et al, 2013; Rooney et al, 2013), suggesting they were able to benefit from the program in the short and medium term. The results do suggest that future programs should consider the following: (i) modifying the complexity of the content to better suit the concrete cognitive style for younger children; (ii) revisit the content materials after 6-month lapse to revise the social and emotional skills learned.…”

“…The 10-week AOP-PTS program was delivered to 8–9 year old children in years 4–5 of primary school, with follow-up assessment of internalizing symptoms and attributional styles conducted at 42 and 54 months post intervention. Data were also collected at 6 and 18 and 30 months post-intervention (Rooney et al, 2013; Morrison et al, 2013). Of these previous studies, the AOP-PTS program was found to be associated with reduced in depression symptoms at post-test, emotional difficulties at 6 months post-intervention but not at 18 months follow-up, and less hyperactive at 30 months follow-up (Morrison et al, 2013; Rooney et al, 2013).…”

“…Although the cognitive aspect of the program may be too complex, children who received the intervention did demonstrate a benefit at post-intervention, 6 and 30 months follow-up (Rooney et al, 2013; Morrison et al, 2013), suggesting they were able to benefit from the program in the short and medium term. However, the single 10 week delivery of the program may have been insufficient to develop and consolidate learning to enable children to continue utilizing the skills for the longer term.…”

“…However, to adequately assess the stability of these results over time, and the impact on incidence of disorders, additional follow-ups are required, particularly those that cross important developmental transitions such as the move to secondary school. A recent follow-up study by Morrison et al (2013) evaluated the medium term effectiveness of the AOP-PTS at a 30 month follow-up. Results indicated no significant differences between control or intervention groups regarding levels of anxiety, depression, and attributional styles.…”