The ‘ FRIENDS for Life’ emotional health programme

Differential impact for those at risk

Datos Bibliográficos

ID9615652
AutoresMichael Wigelsworth (0000-0003-3361-6293, Manchester Institute of Education The University of Manchester Manchester UK, autor de correspondencia), Margarita Panayiotou (0000-0002-6023-7961, Manchester Institute of Education The University of Manchester Manchester UK), Geoffrey Squire (0000-0003-2105-3358, Manchester Institute of Education The University of Manchester Manchester UK), Karolina Byc (0000-0001-5782-7939, Manchester Institute of Education The University of Manchester Manchester UK)
Año2025
Volumen96
Número1
Páginas152-171
Fecha de publicación2025-06-27
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaBritish Journal of Educational Psychology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0007-0998 • E-ISSN: 2044-8279
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/bjep.70005
PMID40579749
OpenAlexW4411743878
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas65

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that FRIENDS, a universal cognitive behavioural programme for schools, can improve children's emotional health, yet debate persists regarding its efficacy with respect to prevention versus treatment, particularly for children at risk of anxiety disorders. AIM: To examine the impact of FRIENDS across different risk categories by assessing: (a) changes in risk status resulting from intervention and (b) treatment effects within specific risk groups. SAMPLE AND METHODS: Secondary analysis of data from a cluster randomized trial (ISRCTN13721202) conducted between 2016 and 2018 involving approximately 3000 pupils (aged 9-10) from 79 schools. Self-reported anxiety, depression and worry measures were collected at pre- and post-test. Risk categories were established using baseline anxiety and depression scores. RESULTS: (1) = .44; p =.507). Within risk categories, significant effects appeared only in the clinical risk group (β = 1.83 (SE = .14), d = .67), with no significant effects for borderline (β = 1.03 (SE = .98), d = .18) or normal (β = .03 (SE = .33), d < .01) categories. CONCLUSION: While FRIENDS did not alter risk status, there appears treatment effects specifically for children within the clinical range for anxiety and depression. Findings provide a more nuanced understanding of who benefits from universal school-based interventions. Findings inform health and education professionals in balancing FRIENDS' treatment effects against factors like availability of alternative services, relative costs and sustainability

Anxiety · Depression (economics) · Developmental psychology · Intervention (counseling) · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Randomized controlled trial · Worry · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Early Childhood Education and Development · Medicine · Psychology · Youth Substance Use and School Attendance