Poster #107 - Using Mobile Health Tools to Improve the Prevention of Anxious Emotions in Elementary School Children.

• In Event: 2-002 - Special Poster Session 05 with Continental Breakfast Reception
  In Poster Session: PS 05 - Interdisciplinary Section

Integrative Statement

There appears to be a gap between efficacy and effectiveness in anxiety prevention, similar to when other intervention efforts (see Rones & Hoagwood, 2000) when transported to schools. To address this gap, we conducted two studies and propose to present our findings at SRCD. Namely, we conducted a hybrid-1, effectiveness-implementation randomized control trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an indicated prevention and early intervention program and to gather fidelity of implementation data. Based on the findings from the hybrid-1 evaluation, we developed a smartphone application with an interdisciplinary team of computer scientists and technologists designed to gamify the delivery and dosage of two protocol ingredients: cognitive self-control and self-efficacy for managing anxiety situations. We plan to describe the formative research leading to the design of our protocol, named REACH and its smartphone application. We also plan to explain that REACH is delivered over the course of 6 sessions (20-minutes each), during school hours, and with school staff as implementers. In terms of findings, our data show that, based on 59 children randomized to REACH and 50 to a self-study control condition, higher implementation quality significantly predicted immediate posttest improvements in emotional awareness, reductions in negative thoughts and gains in self-efficacy. At the 1-year FU, significantly lower anxiety scores for REACH compared to control were found for children who were at one standard deviation above the mean on baseline anxiety scores. Based on these findings, REACH is likely to be a viable intervention for school settings but program effects might need to be strengthen and expanded to benefit more youth. To gain some sense about the possibility of improving REACH outcomes, the smartphone application was tested. Specifically, data from 12 new cases who received REACH plus technology (REACH+) were compared to data from 12 youth who received REACH. Youth were matched on baseline anxiety levels, gender, age, and ethnicity. Findings showed that REACH+ produced a 0.62 SD improvement in negative thoughts and a 0.58 SD increase to coping self-efficacy, over and above REACH. Findings will be discussed in terms of clinical implications and the viability of deploying REACH in school settings as a Tier-2 RTI intervention.

Authors

• Ryan Stoll, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Skyler Mendes, Arizona State University
  Presenting Author

• Hardian Thamrin, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Armando Andres Pina, ASU
  Non-Presenting Author

• Kevin Gary, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Nancy Gonzales, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author