AUTHOR=Pophillat Eugenie , Rooney Rosanna M. , Nesa Monique , Davis Melissa C. , Baughman Natalie , Hassan Sharinaz , Kane Robert T. 

TITLE=Preventing Internalizing Problems in 6–8 Year Old Children: A Universal School-Based Program

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01928

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01928

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p>The Aussie Optimism Program: Feelings and Friends (AOP-FF) is a 10 week, universal mental health promotion program based on social/emotional and cognitive and behavioral strategies. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of a universal Cognitive Behavioral Therapy based program in preventing and reducing internalizing problems in 6–8 year olds (Years 1–3 in Australia). Year 1–3 students from a low SES primary school (<italic>N</italic> = 206) were randomly assigned in classes to either an intervention or a control group and assessed at baseline and post-test. Results showed a significant (<italic>p</italic> = 0.009) and small to moderate (partial eta-squared = 0.034) pre-post decrease in parent-reported anxiety symptoms for the intervention group, in conjunction with a non-significant (<italic>p</italic> = 0.708) and negligible (partial eta-squared = 0.001) pre-post increase for the control group. A larger randomized controlled trial assessing longer term effects is needed. In addition the program needs to be simplified for year 1–2 students with a separate more developmentally appropriate program for year 3 students.</p>