Systemic Digital Health Prevention in Schools to Support Youth Mental Health and Reduce Inequities

• In Event: Cultivating Well-Being: Integrating Community, Culture, and Innovation in Education

Abstract

This study evaluated the Family Check-Up Online (FCU-O) across two randomized trials with middle school youth and families. The FCU-O is a digital health prevention program that is delivered in a brief, online format to increase access to mental health prevention. A total of N=374 participants were included in the analysis and were randomly assigned to receive the intervention. Using Integrative Data Analytic techniques, we examined the effects of random assignment on multiple outcomes. The FCU-O improved emotional problems, effortful control, and parent confidence at the first follow-up, with indirect effects on conduct problems 6 months later. Results indicate the FCU-O has potential as a scalable school-based intervention for middle schools to improve mental health and behavior.

Authors

• Elizabeth A Stormshak, University of Oregon

• Anne Marie Mauricio, University of Oregon

• Arin Connell, Case Western Reserve University