The effects of a school-based psychosocial intervention on resilience and health outcomes among vulnerable children

J Sch Nurs. 2014 Jun;30(3):206-15. doi: 10.1177/1059840513501557. Epub 2013 Aug 20.

Abstract

Responding to the psychosocial health needs of the vulnerable population has been considered as a significant public health issue that must be addressed through access to public health professionals. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the impact of a training program on nurses and teachers' knowledge of psychosocial health needs of vulnerable children and the impact this had on children's resilience and psychosocial health outcomes (self-esteem, social connection, anxiety, and depression). The result showed a significant increase in the knowledge mean scores of both nurses and teachers 6 weeks post intervention. Children's depression scores significantly reduced post intervention. Their resilience, self-esteem, and social connection were also significantly improved, while no significant reduction was found in their anxiety scores. The results of the pilot study suggest that a more rigorous study be conducted to further ascertain the effectiveness of the various interventions used in this study while taking into consideration the challenges raised by the authors.

Keywords: health outcomes; nurses’ knowledge; psychosocial intervention; resilience; vulnerable children.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / nursing*
  • Middle Aged
  • Nigeria
  • Pilot Projects
  • Professional Competence / statistics & numerical data
  • Program Evaluation / statistics & numerical data*
  • Resilience, Psychological*
  • School Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • School Nursing / education*
  • School Nursing / methods*
  • School Nursing / statistics & numerical data
  • Self Concept
  • Surveys and Questionnaires