The preventive reduction of psychological risk in asymptomatic adolescents.

To explore the preventive efficacy of training in coping and social skills, 121 high school students were assigned to four risk classifications, assessed by measures of psychological vulnerability and environmental adversity; within each group, subjects were randomly assigned to a preventive intervention or assessment-only control condition. Findings suggest that group behavioral training can be a beneficial and economical preventive approach with symptom-free high school students, and that training in social skills may benefit those with behavior problems that presage maladjustment.