标题：Changes in self-efficacy in Japanese school-age children with and without high autistic traits after the Universal Unified Prevention Program: a single-group pilot study
期刊名称：Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
印刷版ISSN：1753-2000
电子版ISSN：1753-2000
出版年度：2021
卷号：15
DOI：10.1186/s13034-021-00398-y
语种：English
出版社：BioMed Central
摘要：Background
Research has shown the efficacy of school-based programs for mental health problems in children. However, few studies have focused on the strengths of children, such as resilience, which is essential in preventing mental health problems. Moreover, no research has investigated the effect of a universal school-based program on children with increased autistic traits in mainstream classes. We examined the changes in children's self-efficacy, social skills, and general mental health after the implementation of a newly developed universal program, the Universal Unified Prevention Program for Diverse Disorders (Up2-D2), and whether similar changes occurred in children with and without higher autistic traits.
Methods
To assess possible changes associated with the program, questionnaires were collected from 396 children (207 boys and 189 girls) aged 9–12 years old before (T1), immediately after (T2), and three months after (T3) the implementation of the program.
Results
Results from a linear mixed-effects model showed a significant increase in children's self-efficacy at T2 (adjusted difference 0.49, 95% CI 0.03–0.94; p < 0.05) and T3 (0.78, 95% CI 0.32–1.23; p < 0.001). There were also significant positive changes in social skills and general mental health. Similar changes were observed in children with high autistic traits. Autistic traits at T1 did not contribute to the degree of change in self-efficacy.
Conclusions
Our pilot study suggests that a universal program has the potential to promote positive attitudes and mental health in both at-risk and not-at-risk children.
Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13034-021-00398-y.
