Publication | Open Access
Development and preliminary evaluation of a self-guided, internet-based tool for coping with stress and trauma: Life Improvement for Teens (LIFT).
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2018
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Internet-based ToolEvidence-based InterventionEducationMental Health InterventionMental HealthDigital InterventionTrauma In ChildPsychologyTrauma (Addiction Psychology)Psychological InterventionsIntervention ScienceClinical PsychologyYouth Well-beingTrauma RecoveryPtsd SymptomsOnline CurriculumTrauma (Critical Care Medicine)Health SciencesTeen Mental HealthOpen TrialPsychiatrySchool PsychologyIntervention MechanismSocial-emotional WellbeingResponse To InterventionCognitive Behavioral InterventionLife ImprovementTrauma TreatmentBehavioral SupportPreliminary EvaluationSpecial EducationYouth Behavioral HealthPost-traumatic Stress Disorder
Implementation issues often interfere with delivery of evidence-based interventions for students exposed to trauma. To improve uptake of evidence-based techniques for such students, a partnership of interventionist scientists, research and development experts, and students created a self-paced, confidential, online curriculum. This article describes the program and results of an open trial in 5 schools that serve primarily ethnic minority youth in urban settings. Fifty-one middle and high school students completed surveys before and after the program, as well as within the program, to assess emotional and behavioral symptoms (depressive, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms and behavior) and purported mechanisms of action (coping, cognitions, emotional self-efficacy). Results indicated the program was feasible and acceptable, with moderate satisfaction. Despite low power in this study, we observed changes in several hypothesized mechanisms of action. In addition, we observed promising improvements in PTSD symptoms, emotional problems, and total behavioral difficulties. These findings offer the promise of using a self-help web-based tool to augment and enhance usual school support services. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).