As a practitioner committed to fostering positive outcomes for children, it's crucial to base interventions on solid evidence. The study "Preliminary evaluation of a school-based resilience-promoting intervention in a high-risk population: Application of an exploratory two-cohort treatment/control design" provides valuable insights into the efficacy of resilience-promoting programs in schools. This blog will discuss how you can leverage these findings to improve your practice and encourage further research.
Understanding the SPARK Resilience Program
The SPARK Resilience Program, evaluated in the study, is a school-based intervention designed to enhance resilience and reduce depression symptoms among students aged 11-13. The program was tested in a high-risk population, specifically in a deprived area of England, and yielded promising results. The study employed a two-cohort treatment/control design, combining quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the program's effectiveness.
Key Findings
- Depression symptoms were significantly lower immediately after the intervention and at six months, though not at twelve months.
- Resilience scores were significantly higher in the treatment group at post-treatment and at both follow-up assessments (six and twelve months).
- Qualitative feedback from teachers indicated a positive experience and perceived benefits of the program.
Implementing the Findings in Your Practice
Based on the study's outcomes, here are some actionable steps you can take:
1. Integrate Resilience Training into the Curriculum
Incorporate structured resilience programs like SPARK into the regular curriculum. The program's focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and positive psychology concepts can help students develop coping skills and emotional regulation.
2. Train Teachers Thoroughly
Ensure that teachers receive comprehensive training to deliver the program effectively. The study highlighted the importance of teacher training in the program's success.
3. Use Mixed Methods for Evaluation
Adopt a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the program's impact. Combining quantitative data with qualitative feedback can provide a holistic understanding of the intervention's effectiveness.
4. Plan for Long-Term Support
Consider implementing booster sessions to sustain the program's benefits over time. The study found that while depression symptoms reduced initially, the effects waned after six months. Ongoing support can help maintain these positive outcomes.
Encouraging Further Research
The study's exploratory design provides a foundation for further research. Practitioners and researchers should consider conducting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to validate these findings and explore additional variables such as socio-economic status and parental involvement.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Preliminary evaluation of a school-based resilience-promoting intervention in a high-risk population: Application of an exploratory two-cohort treatment/control design
