Evaluation of a preventive intervention for a self-selected subpopulation of children

Am J Community Psychol. 1995 Apr;23(2):223-47. doi: 10.1007/BF02506937.

Abstract

Evaluated an experimental preventive intervention developed for children who perceived their parents as problem drinkers. The 8-session program was designed to improve children's coping, self-esteem, and social competence, and modify alcohol expectancies which were specified as mediators of the effects of parental alcohol abuse on child mental health. Participants were 271 self-selected 4th-, 5th-, and 6th-grade students in 13 schools. The children were randomly assigned to treatment or delayed treatment conditions and the program was given to three successive cohorts of students. A meta-analysis across three different cohorts indicated significant program effects to improve knowledge of the program content and the use of support- and emotion-focused coping behaviors for the full sample. A slightly stronger range of effects was found for a high-risk subsample.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adolescent
  • Alcoholism / psychology*
  • Child
  • Child Behavior*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events
  • Male
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Schools
  • Self Concept
  • Students / psychology