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Super Skills for Life Effectiveness in the Online Modality

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Depressive Symptoms
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms
Child Mental Disorder
Mood Disorders
Emotional Disorder
Depressive Disorder
Interventions
Behavioral: Super Skills for Life program
Registration Number
NCT05589090
Lead Sponsor
Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche
Brief Summary

The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the transdiagnostic program Super Skills for Life (SSL). This protocol targets children aged 8 to 12 with emotional problems (anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and lack of social skills). SSL consists of eight sessions targeting common risk factors for internalizing disorders such as cognitive distortions, avoidance, emotional management, low self-esteem, social skills deficits, and coping strategies. The present research focuses on assessing the effectiveness of SSL applied online (through a virtual platform).

Detailed Description

After selecting the children based on the online questionnaires completed by the parents (preintervention assessment) and inclusion/exclusion criteria, they were randomly allocated to the conditions of the intervention group and the wait-list control group. Parents and children from both groups completed the same measures at baseline, post-treatment, and 12 months follow-up. Children in the experimental group received the SSL program by the virtual platform.

The objective of the study is to evaluate the benefits of the Super Skills for Life protocol applied online. For this purpose, the researchers will test to what extent the experimental group decreases its anxiety symptoms, anxiety impairment, depressive symptoms, behavioral problems, hyperactivity/inattention, and peer relationship problems, and increase its self-esteem and prosocial behaviors, compared to the control group.

In conclusion, the purpose of the study is to explore whether SSL implemented online can be a cost-effective psychological intervention to prevent emotional problems in Spanish children.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
30
Inclusion Criteria
  • Children aged 8-12
  • Presenting subclinical symptoms of emotional problems (anxiety, depression)
  • Speaking, reading, writing, and understanding Spanish.
  • Not receiving psychological or pharmacological treatment for emotional and/or behavioral problems
Exclusion Criteria
  • Had a psychiatric diagnosis already established
  • Presenting a severe developmental disorder (intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, etc).

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention groupSuper Skills for Life programSuper Skills for Life intervention
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Depression symptoms at 1 year1 year after the intervention

Measured by the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ-C; short version), a screening tool for depression in children aged 6-17 years. Children must report their feelings and behaviors over the previous 2 weeks. The sum of all items provides a total measure of depression (score range: 0-26), and the higher this score is, the more severe the symptoms are.

Parent-reported depression at 1 year1 year after the intervention

Measured by the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ-P; short version), a screening tool for depression in children aged 6-17 years. Parents must inform about their children's feelings and behaviors over the previous 2 weeks. The sum of all items provides a total measure of depression (score range: 0-26), and the higher this score is, the more severe the symptoms are.

Children's reported anxiety symptoms at 1 year1 year after the intervention

Measured by Spence Children's Anxiety Scale Child Report (SCAS; short version). SCAS measures symptoms severity of the DSM-IV anxiety disorders in children (subscales: total, panic and agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, separation anxiety, and specific fears). This yields a minimum possible score of 0 and a maximum possible score of 24. Higher scores indicate greater severity of symptoms

Change from baseline parent-reported psychological adjustment to immediately after the interventionbaseline and immediately after the intervention

Measured by Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Parental Report (SDQ-P). It was designed to measure children's overall difficulties (minimum value 0 and maximum value 40) and positive attributes across five subscales (minimum value 0 and maximum value 10): Emotional symptoms (e.g., anxiety and depression), Conduct problems, Hyperactivity/Inattention, Peer relationships (difficulties), and Pro-social behavior. Higher scores indicate higher levels of difficulties, except on the prosocial subscale, where higher scores reflect a more positive attribute.

Parent-reported anxiety at 1 year1 year after the intervention

Measured by Spence Children's Anxiety Scale Parent Report (SCAS-P; short version). SCAS-P measures symptoms severity of the DSM-IV anxiety disorders in children (subscales: total, panic and agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, separation anxiety, and specific fears). This yields a minimum possible score of 0 and a maximum possible score of 24. Higher scores indicate greater severity of symptoms.

Change from baseline depression symptoms to immediately after the intervention1 year after the intervention

Measured by the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ-C; short version), a screening tool for depression in children aged 6-17 years. Children must report their feelings and behaviors over the previous 2 weeks. The sum of all items provides a total measure of depression (score range: 0-26), and the higher this score is, the more severe the symptoms are.

Change from baseline parent-reported anxiety symptoms to immediately after the interventionbaseline and immediately after the intervention

Measured by Spence Children's Anxiety Scale Parent Report (SCAS-P; short version). SCAS-P measures symptoms severity of the DSM-IV anxiety disorders in children (subscales: total, panic and agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, separation anxiety, and specific fears). This yields a minimum possible score of 0 and a maximum possible score of 24. Higher scores indicate greater severity of symptoms.

Parent-reported psychological adjustment at 1 year1 year after the intervention

Measured by Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Parental Report (SDQ-P). It was designed to measure children's overall difficulties (minimum value 0 and maximum value 40) and positive attributes across five subscales (minimum value 0 and maximum value 10): Emotional symptoms (e.g., anxiety and depression), Conduct problems, Hyperactivity/Inattention, Peer relationships (difficulties), and Pro-social behavior. Higher scores indicate higher levels of difficulties, except on the prosocial subscale, where higher scores reflect a more positive attribute.

Change from baseline parent-reported depression to immediately after the interventionbaseline and immediately after the intervention

Measured by the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ-P; short version), a screening tool for depression in children aged 6-17 years. Parents must inform about their children's feelings and behaviors over the previous 2 weeks. The sum of all items provides a total measure of depression (score range: 0-26), and the higher this score is, the more severe the symptoms are.

Change from baseline children's reported psychological adjustment to immediately after the interventionbaseline and immediately after the intervention

Measured by Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Child Report (SDQ). It was designed to measure children's overall difficulties (minimum value 0 and maximum value 40) and positive attributes across five subscales (minimum value 0 and maximum value 10): Emotional symptoms (e.g., anxiety and depression), Conduct problems, Hyperactivity/Inattention, Peer relationships (difficulties), and Pro-social behavior. Higher scores indicate higher levels of difficulties, except on the prosocial subscale, where higher scores reflect a more positive attribute.

Change from baseline children's reported anxiety symptoms to immediately after the interventionbaseline and immediately after the intervention

Measured by Spence Children's Anxiety Scale Child Report (SCAS; short version). SCAS measures symptoms severity of the DSM-IV anxiety disorders in children (subscales: total, panic and agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, separation anxiety, and specific fears). This yields a minimum possible score of 0 and a maximum possible score of 24. Higher scores indicate greater severity of symptoms

Children's reported psychological adjustment at 1 year1 year after the intervention

Measured by Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Child Report (SDQ). It was designed to measure children's overall difficulties (minimum value 0 and maximum value 40) and positive attributes across five subscales (minimum value 0 and maximum value 10): Emotional symptoms (e.g., anxiety and depression), Conduct problems, Hyperactivity/Inattention, Peer relationships (difficulties), and Pro-social behavior. Higher scores indicate higher levels of difficulties, except on the prosocial subscale, where higher scores reflect a more positive attribute.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from baseline self-concept to immediately after the interventionbaseline and immediately after the intervention

Measured by the Self-Concept Form 5 (AF-5). It measures global satisfaction with self-concept (minimum value 0 and maximum value 120) and five dimensions (minimum value 0 and maximum value 24): Social (performance in social relationships); Academic/Professional (student/worker role); Emotional (perception of emotional state in general and in specific situations); Family (participation and integration into the family unit); and Physical self-concept (appearance and physical condition). Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction with self-image.

Change from baseline social worries to immediately after the interventionbaseline and immediately after the intervention

Measured by the Social Worries Questionnaire for pupils (SWQ-PU). It evaluates children's worries in different social situations. In general, the higher the score, the more severe the symptomatology.

Children's social worries at 1 year1 year after the intervention

Measured by the Social Worries Questionnaire for pupils (SWQ-PU). It evaluates children's worries in different social situations. In general, the higher the score, the more severe the symptomatology.

Children's self-concept at 1 year1 year after the intervention

Measured by the Self-Concept Form 5 (AF-5). It measures global satisfaction with self-concept (minimum value 0 and maximum value 120) and five dimensions (minimum value 0 and maximum value 24): Social (performance in social relationships); Academic/Professional (student/worker role); Emotional (perception of emotional state in general and in specific situations); Family (participation and integration into the family unit); and Physical self-concept (appearance and physical condition). Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction with self-image.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche

🇪🇸

Elche, Alicante, Spain

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