The Prevention of Childhood Anxiety in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Communities: A Universal School-Based Trial

This study is the first to examine the efficacy of the FRIENDS for Life program, a school-based, universal prevention program for childhood anxiety, when delivered exclusively to school-children from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. Participants (N = 963) were children from Grades 5, 6 and 7 attending one of three public primary schools in Brisbane, Australia. Participants from all three schools completed a teacher-led intervention, delivered during regular classroom time within one school term. Participants completed measures assessing anxiety and depressive symptomatology, self-esteem, coping skills and psychosocial difficulties at pre, post and 12-month follow-up. Self-report data revealed significant decreases in both anxiety and depressive symptomatology at post-intervention which were maintained at followup. Significant reductions in peer problems and conduct problems, along with significant improvements in self-esteem and the use of coping strategies, were also noted over time. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed, along with limitations and directions for future research.