Abstract
Childhood and adolescence is a time of rapid biological, psychological, and social growth. Prevalence rates around the world currently estimate approximately one in five adolescents experience mental health difficulties. As factors are increasingly implicated in the etiology of behavioral and emotional difficulties, clinicians and researchers have identified the need for resilience-enhancing prevention programs. The current authors redefine resilience as not only being able to navigate towards and negotiate for resources in the face of adversity, but also to embrace positive life challenges. This chapter discusses protective and risk factors of emotional well-being in youths to provide a framework for the development of resilience-building programs. A brief review of resilience enhancement in youths is provided as well as introduction to the FRIENDS protocol, four socio-emotional skills programs. The FRIENDS programs are robustly supported and the only program endorsed by the World Health Organization for the prevention and treatment of anxiety and depression in children and youth (Prevention of mental disorders: Effective interventions and policy options, Geneva, Switzerland, 2004). Description of the FRIENDS programs, research evaluating intervention outcomes, and strategies to adapt techniques for use in diverse youth populations are also included. Lastly, recent innovations in conceptualization, research, assessment, and treatment of resilience as well as future directions for research are discussed.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ager, A. (2013). Annual research review: Resilience and child well-being—Public policy implications. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54, 488–503. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12030.
Ahlen, J., Breitholtz, E., Barrett, P. M., & Gallegos, J. (2012). School-based prevention of anxiety and depression: A pilot study in Sweden. Advances in School Mental Health Promotion, 5, 246–257. doi:10.1080/1754730X.2012.730352.
Ainsworth, M. D. S. (1989). Attachments beyond infancy. The American Psychologist, 44, 709–716. Retrieved from http://www.ovid.com
Albano, A. M. (2009). Special series: Intensive cognitive-behavioral treatments for child and adolescent anxiety disorders. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 16, 358–362. doi:10.1016/j.cbpra.2009.04.002.
Anticich, S. J., Barrett, P. M., Silverman, W., Lacherez, P., & Gillies, R. (2013). The prevention of childhood anxiety and promotion of resilience among preschool-aged children: A universal school based trial. Advances in School Mental Health Promotion, 6, 93–121. doi:10.1080/1754730X.2013.784616.
Barksdale, C. L., Azur, M., & Daniels, A. M. (2010). Behavioral and emotional strengths among youth in systems-of-care and the effect of race/ethnicity. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 18, 236–246. doi:10.1177/1063426609351700.
Barrett, P. M. (2012a). FUN FRIENDS: A facilitator’s guide to building resilience in 4 to 7 year old children through play (3rd ed.). Brisbane, Australia: Pathways Health and Research Centre.
Barrett, P. M. (2012b). FRIENDS for Life: Activity book for children (6th ed.). Brisbane, Australia: Pathways Health and Research Centre.
Barrett, P. M. (2012c). FRIENDS for Life: Group leaders’ manual for children (6th ed.). Brisbane, Australia: Pathways Health and Research Centre.
Barrett, P. M. (2012d). My FUN FRIENDS book: A book for me to draw in and talk about with my friends and family (3rd ed.). Brisbane, Australia: Pathways Health and Research Centre.
Barrett, P. M. (2012e). My FRIENDS Youth Resilience Program: Group leaders’ manual for youth (6th ed.). Brisbane, Australia: Pathways Health and Research Centre.
Barrett, P. M. (2012f). My FRIENDS Youth Resilience Program: Activity book for youth (6th ed.). Brisbane, Australia: Pathways Health and Research Centre.
Barrett, P. M. (2012g). Strong not tough adult program: Resilience throughout life (2nd ed.). Brisbane, Australia: Pathways Health and Research Centre.
Barrett, P. M. (2012h). Strong not tough adult program: Resilience throughout life: Guidelines for facilitators (2nd ed.). Brisbane, Australia: Pathways Health and Research Centre.
Barrett, P., Farrell, L. J., Ollendick, T. H., & Dadds, M. (2006). Long-term outcomes of an Australian universal prevention trial of anxiety and depression symptoms in children and youth: An evaluation of the FRIENDS program. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 35, 403–411. Retrieved from http://www.ovid.com
Barrett, P., Lock, S., & Farrell, L. J. (2005). Developmental differences in universal preventive intervention for child anxiety. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 10, 539–555. doi:10.1177/1359104505056317.
Barrett, P. M., Moore, A. F., & Sonderegger, R. (2000). The FRIENDS program for young former-Yugoslavian refugees in Australia: A pilot study. Behaviour Change, 17, 124–133. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com
Barrett, P. M., Sonderegger, R., & Sonderegger, N. (2001). Evaluation of an anxiety-prevention and positive-coping program (FRIENDS) for children and adolescents of non-English speaking background. Behaviour Change, 18, 78–91. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com
Barrett, P. M., Sonderegger, R., & Xenos, S. (2003). Using FRIENDS to combat anxiety and adjustment problems among young migrants to Australia: A national trial. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 8, 241–260. doi:10.1177/1359104503008002008.
Barrett, P., & Turner, C. (2001). Prevention of anxiety symptoms in primary school children: Preliminary results from a universal school-based trial. The British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 40, 399–410. doi:10.1348/014466501163887.
Barrett, P. M., Turner, C. M., & Sonderegger, R. (2000). Childhood anxiety in ethnic families: Current status and future directions. Behaviour Change, 17, 113–123. Retrieved from http://www.informit.com.au
Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1994). The need to belong. Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 497–529. Retrieved from http://www.ovid.com
Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss, Vol. 2: Separation: Anxiety and anger. New York: Basic Books.
CASEL. (2011). What is social and emotional learning (SEL)? Retrieved from http://casel.org/why-it-matters/what-is-sel/
Connell, A. M., & Goodman, S. H. (2002). The association between psychopathology in fathers versus mothers and children’s internalizing and externalizing behavior problems: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 128, 746–773. doi:10.1037//0033-2909.128.5.746.
Cooley, M. R., Boyd, R. C., & Grados, J. J. (2004). Feasibility of an anxiety preventive intervention for community violence exposed African-American children. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 25, 105–123. Retrieved from http://www.springer.com
Cooley-Strickland, M. R., Griffin, R. S., Darney, D., Otte, K., & Ko, J. (2011). Urban African American youth exposed to community violence: A school-based anxiety preventive intervention efficacy program. Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community, 39, 149–166. doi:10.1080/10852352.2011.556573.
Dadds, M. R., & Roth, J. H. (2008). Prevention of anxiety disorders: Results of a universal trial with young children. Journal of Children and Family Studies, 17, 320–335. doi:10.1007/s10826-007-9144-3.
Daniel, B., & Wassell, S. (2002a). Adolescence: Assessing and promoting resilience in vulnerable children. Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Daniel, B., & Wassell, S. (2002b). The early years: Assessing and promoting resilience in vulnerable children. Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Daniel, B., & Wassell, S. (2002c). The school years: Assessing and promoting resilience in vulnerable children. Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Drake, K. L., & Ginsburg, G. S. (2012). Family factors in the development, treatment, and prevention of childhood anxiety disorders. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 15, 144–162. doi:10.1007/s10567-011-0109-0.
Dudley, K. J., Li, X., Kobor, M. S., Kippin, T. E., & Bredy, T. W. (2011). Epigenetic mechanisms mediating vulnerability and resilience to psychiatric disorders. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 35, 1544–1551. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.12.016.
Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development, 82, 405–432. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01564.x.
Durlak, J. A., & Wells, A. M. (1997). Primary prevention mental health programs for children and adolescents: A meta-analytic review. American Journal of Community Psychology, 25, 115–152.
Essau, C. A., Conradt, J., & Ederer, E. M. (2004). Angstpravention bei schulkindern. Versicherungsmedizin, 56, 123–130.
Essau, C. A., Conradt, J., Sasagawa, S., & Ollendick, T. H. (2012). Prevention of anxiety symptoms in children: Results from a Universal School Trial. Behavior Therapy, 43, 450–464. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2011.08.003.
Fisak, B. J., Jr., Richard, D., & Mann, A. (2011). The prevention of child and adolescent anxiety: A meta-analytic review. Prevention Science, 12, 255–268. doi:10.1007/s11121-011-0210-0.
Friends Resources. (2012). Friends resources. Retrieved from http://www.friendsresources.com
Gallegos, J., Linan-Thompson, S., Stark, K., & Ruvalcaba, N. (2013). Preventing childhood anxiety and depression: Testing the effectiveness of a school-based program in Mexico. PsicologÃa Educativa, 19, 37–44. doi:10.1017/bec.2012.8.
Gallegos, J., Rodriguez, A., Gomez, G., Rabelo, M., & Gutierrez, M. F. (2012). The FRIENDS for Life program for Mexican girls living in an orphanage: A pilot study. Behaviour Change, 29, 1–14. doi:10.1017/bec.2012.8.
Gallegos-Guajardo, J., Ruvalcaba-Romero, N., Garza-Támez, M., & Villegas-Guinea, N. (2013). Social validity evaluation of the FRIENDS for Life program with Mexican children. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 1, 158–169. doi:10.11114/jets.v1i1.90.
Giesen, F., Searle, A., & Sawyer, M. (2007). Identifying and implementing prevention programmes for childhood mental health problems. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 43, 785–789. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1754.2007.01196.
Gladstone, T., & Beardslee, W. R. (2009). The prevention of depression in children and adolescents: A review. La Revue Canadienne de Psychiatrie, 54, 212–221. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com
Greenberg, M. T. (2000). Promoting resilience in children and youth: Preventative interventions and their interface with neuroscience. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1094, 139–150. doi:10.1196/annals.1376.013.
Gulay, H. (2011). Assessment of the prosocial behaviors of young children with regard to social development, social skills, parental acceptance-rejection and peer relationships. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 38, 164–172. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com
James, A., Soler, A., & Weatherall, R. (2005). Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4):CD004690. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004690.pub2
Kagan, J., Reznik, J. S., & Snidman, N. (1987). The physiology and psychology of behavioral inhibition in children. Child Development, 58, 1459–1473. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/
Ladd, G. W. (1999). Peer relationships and social competence during early and middle childhood. Annual Review of Psychology, 50, 333–359. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com
Laible, D. J., Carlo, G., & Raffaelli, M. (2000). The differential relations of parent and peer attachment to adolescent adjustment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 29, 45–59. doi:10.1023/A:1005169004882.
Legerstee, J. S., Huizink, A. C., van Gastel, W., Liber, J. M., Treffers, P. D. A., Verhulst, F. C., et al. (2008). Maternal anxiety predicts favourable treatment outcomes in anxiety-disordered adolescents. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 117, 289–298. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01161.x.
Levav, I., Jacobsson, L., Tsiantis, J., Kolaitis, G., & Ponizovsky, A. (2004). Psychiatric services and training for children and adolescents in Europe: Results of a country survey. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 13, 395–401. doi:10.1007/s00787-004-0427-6.
Liber, J. M., van Widenfelt, B. M., Goedhart, A. W., Utens, E. M. W. J., van der Leeden, A. J. M., Markus, M. T., et al. (2008). Parenting and parental anxiety and depression as predictors of treatment outcome for childhood anxiety disorders: Has the role of fathers been underestimated? Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 37, 747–758. doi:10.1080/15374410802359692.
Liddle, I., & Macmillan, S. (2010). Evaluating the FRIENDS programme in a Scottish setting. Educational Psychology in Practice, 26, 53–67. doi:10.1080/02667360903522785.
Lock, S., & Barrett, P. (2003). A longitudinal study of developmental differences in universal preventive intervention for child anxiety. Behaviour Change, 20, 183–199. doi:10.1375/bech.20.4.183.29383.
Low, N. C. P., Dugas, E., O’Loughlin, E., Rodriguez, D., Conteras, G., Chaiton, M., et al. (2012). Common stressful life events and difficulties are associated with mental health symptoms and substance use in young adolescents. BioMed Central Psychiatry, 12, 116–127. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-12-116.
Lowry-Webster, H. M., Barrett, P., & Dadds, M. R. (2001). A universal prevention trial of anxiety and depressive symptomatology in childhood: Preliminary data from an Australian study. Behaviour Change, 18(1), 36–50. doi:10.1375/bech.18.1.36.
Lowry-Webster, H. M., Barrett, P., & Lock, S. (2003). A universal prevention trial of anxiety symptomology during childhood: Results at 1-year follow-up. Behaviour Change, 20, 25–43. doi:10.1375/bech.20.1.25.24843.
Marysko, M., Finke, P., Wiebel, A., Resch, F., & Moehler, E. (2010). Can mothers predict childhood behavioural inhibition in early infancy? Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 15, 91–96. doi:10.1111/j.1475-3588.2009.00539.x.
McCabe, P. C., & Altamura, M. (2011). Empirically valid strategies to improve social and emotional competence of preschool children. Psychology in the Schools, 48, 513–540. doi:10.1002/pits.20570.
Mostert, J., & Loxton, H. (2008). Exploring the effectiveness of the FRIENDS program in reducing anxiety symptoms among South African children. Behavior Change, 25, 85–96. doi:10.1375/bech.25.2.85.
Neil, A. J., & Christensen, H. (2009). Efficacy and effectiveness of school-based prevention and early intervention programs for anxiety. Clinical Psychology Review, 29, 208–215. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2009.01.002.
Pahl, K. M., Barrett, P. M., & Gullo, M. J. (2012). Examining potential risk factors for anxiety in early childhood. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 26, 311–320. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.12.013.
Peper, J. S., & Dahl, R. E. (2013). The teenage brain: Surging hormones—Brain-behavior interactions during puberty. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 22, 134–139. doi:10.1177/0963721412473755.
Prince-Embury, S. (2010). Introduction to the special issue: Assessing resiliency in children and adolescents. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 28, 287–290. doi:10.1177/0734282910366830.
Rodgers, A., & Dunsmuir, S. (2013). A controlled evaluation of the FRIENDS for Life emotional resiliency programme on overall anxiety levels, anxiety subtype levels and school adjustment. Child and Adolescent Mental Health [Early online view]. doi: 10.1111/camh.12030
Rutter, M. (2007). Psychopathological development across adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36, 101–110. doi:10.1007/s10964-006-9125-7.
Sawyer, M. G., Miller-Lewose, L. R., & Clark, J. J. (2007). The mental health of 13–17 year olds in Australia: Findings from the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36, 185–194. doi:10.1007/s10964-006-9122-x.
Shamir-Essakow, G., Ungerer, J. A., & Rapee, R. M. (2005). Attachment, behavioral inhibition, and anxiety in preschool children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 3, 131–145. doi:10.1007/s-10802-005-1822-2.
Siu, A. F. Y. (2007). Using FRIENDS to combat internalizing problems among primary school children in Hong Kong. Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies, 7, 11–26. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com
Sonderegger, R., & Barrett, P. M. (2004). Assessment and treatment of ethnically diverse children and adolescents. In P. M. Barrett & T. H. Ollendick (Eds.), Handbook of interventions that work with children and adolescents (pp. 89–112). West Sussex, England: Wiley.
Stallard, P., Simpson, N., Anderson, S., Carter, T., Osborn, C., & Bush, S. (2005). An evaluation of the FRIENDS programme: A cognitive behaviour therapy intervention to promote emotional resilience. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 90, 1016–1019. doi:10.1136/ads.2004.068163.
Stallard, P., Simpson, N., Anderson, S., & Goddard, M. (2008). The FRIENDS emotional health prevention programme: 12 month follow-up of a universal UK school based trial. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 17, 183–189. doi:10.1007/s00787-007-0665-5.
Stallard, P., Simpson, N., Anderson, S., Hibbert, S., & Osborn, C. (2007). The FRIENDS Emotional Health Programme: Initial findings from a school-based project. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 12, 32–37. doi:10.1111/j.1475-3588.2006.00421.x.
Stopa, E. J., Barrett, P. M., & Golingi, F. (2010). The prevention of childhood anxiety in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities: A universal school based trial. Advances in School Mental Health Promotion, 3, 5–24.
Takahashi, Y., Yamagata, S., Kijima, N., Shigemasu, K., Ono, Y., & Ando, J. (2007). Continuity and change in behavioral inhibition and activation systems: A longitudinal behavioral genetic study. Personality and Individual Differences, 43, 1616–1625. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2007.04.030.
The National Research Council. (2009). Preventing mental, emotional and behavioral disorders among young people: Progress and possibilities. Washington, DC: The National Academy Press.
Tortella-Feliu, M., Servera, M., Balle, M., & Fullana, M. A. (2004). Viabilidad de un programa de prevención selectiva de los problemas de ansiedad en la infancia aplicado en la escuela. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 4, 371–387. Retrieved from http://www.redalyc.org/
Ungar, M. (2008). Resilience across cultures. British Journal of Social Work, 38, 218–235. doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcl343.
World Health Organization. (2004). Prevention of mental disorders: Effective interventions and policy options. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.
Wu, G., Feder, A., Cohen, H., Kim, J. J., Calderon, S., Charney, D. S., et al. (2013). Understanding resilience. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 7, 1–11. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00010.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Barrett, P.M., Cooper, M., Guajardo, J.G. (2014). Using the FRIENDS Programs to Promote Resilience in Cross-Cultural Populations. In: Prince-Embury, S., Saklofske, D. (eds) Resilience Interventions for Youth in Diverse Populations. The Springer Series on Human Exceptionality. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0542-3_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0542-3_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0541-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0542-3
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)