A Qualitative Investigation of Adolescents’ Perceived Mechanisms of Change from a Universal School-Based Depression Prevention Program

Ian Shochet, Roslyn Montague, Coral Smith and Mark Dadds
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Ian Shochet: School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4059, Australia
Roslyn Montague: New South Wales Institute of Psychiatry, Sydney 2145, Australia
Coral Smith: School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4059, Australia
Mark Dadds: School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-14

Abstract: A recent meta-analysis provides evidence supporting the universal application of school-based prevention programs for adolescent depression. The mechanisms underlying such successful interventions, however, are largely unknown. We report on a qualitative analysis of 109 Grade 9 students’ beliefs about what they gained from an evidence-based depression prevention intervention, the Resourceful Adolescent Program (RAP-A). Fifty-four percent of interviewees articulated at least one specific example of program benefit. A thematic analysis of responses revealed two major themes, improved interpersonal relationships and improved self-regulation, both stronger than originally assumed. A more minor theme also emerged—more helpful cognitions. It is postulated that both improved interpersonal relationships and improved self-regulation are likely to enhance one another, and more helpful cognitions may express its contribution through enhanced self-regulation. These findings broaden our understanding of the impact of depression prevention programs, beginning to illuminate how such programs benefit participants.

Keywords: prevention; universal interventions; adolescence; depression; school-based interventions; resilience (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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