Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Preventing Adolescent Social Anxiety and Depression and Reducing Peer Victimization: Intervention Development and Open Trial

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Child & Youth Care Forum Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) and depression are common among adolescents, frequently comorbid, and resistant to change. Prevention programs for adolescent SAD are scant, and depression prevention programs do not fully address peer-risk factors. One critical peer-risk factor for SAD and depression is peer victimization. We describe the development and initial evaluation of a transdiagnostic school-based preventive intervention for adolescents with elevated symptoms of social anxiety and/or depression and elevated peer victimization. We modified Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training for depression, incorporating strategies for dealing with social anxiety and peer victimization.

Objective

Our open trial assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary benefit of the modified program (called UTalk) for adolescents at risk for SAD or depression and who also reported peer victimization.

Method

Adolescents (N = 14; 13–18 years; 79 % girls; 86 % Hispanic) were recruited and completed measures of peer victimization, social anxiety, and depression both pre- and post-intervention and provided ratings of treatment satisfaction. Independent evaluators (IEs) rated youths’ clinical severity. The intervention (3 individual and 10 group sessions) was conducted weekly during school.

Results

Regarding feasibility, 86 % of the adolescents completed the intervention (M attendance = 11.58 sessions). Satisfaction ratings were uniformly positive. Intention-to-treat analyses revealed significant declines in adolescent- and IE-rated social anxiety and depression and in reports of peer victimization. Additional secondary benefits were observed.

Conclusions

Although further evaluation is needed, the UTalk intervention appears feasible to administer in schools, with high satisfaction and preliminary benefit. Implications for research on the prevention of adolescent SAD and depression are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. A copy of the Manual is available from the first author.

References

  • Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2001). Manual for the ASEBA school-age forms and profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth, & Families.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahlen, J., Lenhard, F., & Ghaderi, A. (2015). Universal prevention for anxiety and depressive symptoms in children: A meta-analysis of randomized and cluster-randomized trials. Journal of Primary Prevention, 36(6), 387–403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aune, T., & Stiles, T. C. (2009). Universal-based prevention of syndromal and subsyndromal social anxiety: A randomized controlled study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77(5), 867–879.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, P. M., 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(3), 403–411.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beesdo, K., Bittner, A., Pine, D. S., Stein, M. B., Hölfer, M., Lieb, D. R., et al. (2007). Incidence of social anxiety disorder and the consistent risk for secondary depression in the first three decades of life. Archives of General Psychiatry, 64, 903–912.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beidel, D. C., Turner, S. M., & Morris, T. L. (2000). Behavioral treatment of childhood social phobia. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 1072–1080.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Birmaher, B., Ryan, N. D., Williamson, D. E., Brent, D. A., & Kaufman, J. (1996). Childhood and adolescent depression: A review of the past 10 years. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35(12), 1575.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blechman, E. A., McEnroe, M. J., Carella, E. T., & Audette, D. P. (1986). Childhood competence and depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95, 223–227.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blöte, A. W., Miers, A. C., Heyne, D. A., & Westenberg, P. M. (2015). Social anxiety and the school environment of adolescents. In K. Ranta, A. M. La Greca, L. J. García-Lopez, & M. Marttunen (Eds.), Social anxiety and phobia in adolescents: Development, manifestation and intervention strategies (pp. 151–181). Switzerland: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Cantone, E., Piras, A. P., Vellante, M., Preti, A., Danielsdottir, S., D’Aloja, E., et al. (2015). Interventions on bullying and cyberbullying in schools: A systematic review. Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health, 11(Suppl 1: M4), 58–76.

  • Chu, B. C., Colognori, D., Weissman, A. S., & Bannon, K. (2009). An initial description and pilot of group behavioral activation therapy for anxious and depressed youth. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 11, 408–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, G. N., Hawkins, W., Murphy, M., Sheeber, L. B., Lewinsohn, P. M., & Seeley, J. R. (1995). Targeted prevention of unipolar depressive disorder in an at-risk sample of high school adolescents: A randomized trial of a group cognitive intervention. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 34(3), 312–321.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, C. R., Williams, K. R., Guerra, N. G., Kim, T. E., & Sadek, S. (2010). Predictors of bullying and victimization in childhood and adolescence: A meta-analytic investigation. School Psychology Quarterly, 25(2), 65–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costello, E. J., Egger, H., Copeland, W., Erkanli, A., & Angold, A. (2011). The developmental epidemiology of anxiety disorders: Phenomenology, prevalence, and comorbidity. In W. K. Silverman & A. Field (Eds.), Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costello, E. J., Mustillo, S., Erkanli, A., Keeler, G., & Angold, A. (2003). Prevalence and development of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60(8), 837–844.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dalrymple, K. L., & Zimmerman, M. (2011). Age of onset of social anxiety disorder in depressed outpatients. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 25, 131–137.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davila, J., & Beck, J. G. (2002). Is social anxiety associated with impairment in close relationships? A preliminary investigation. Behavior Therapy, 33, 427–446.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Los Reyes, A., & Prinstein, M. J. (2004). Applying depression-distortion hypotheses to the assessment of peer victimization in adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child Adolescent Psychology, 33(2), 325–335.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dinkes, R., Cataldi, E. F., & Lin-Kelly, W. (2007). Indicators of school crime and safety: 2007 (NCES 2008-021/NCJ 219553). Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, and Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Downey, R. G., & King, C. V. (1998). Missing data in Likert ratings: A comparison of replacement methods. Journal of General Psychology, 1998(125), 175–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dozois, D. J. A., Seeds, P. M., & Collins, K. A. (2009). Transdiagnostic approaches to the prevention of depression and anxiety. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 23, 44–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenreich-May, J., Bilek, E. L., Buzzella, B. A., Kennedy, S. M., Mash, J. A., & Bennett, S. M. (in press). The unified protocols for the transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders in children and adolescents: Therapist guide. New York: Oxford University Press.

  • Essau, C. A., Conradt, J., Sasagawa, S., & Ollendick, T. M. (2012). Prevention of anxiety symptoms in children: A universal school-based trial. Behavior Therapy, 43, 450–464.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garber, J., Clarke, G. N., Weersing, V. R., Beardslee, W. R., et al. (2009). Prevention of depression in at-risk adolescents. Journal of the American Medical Association, 301(21), 2215–2224.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Garber, J., & Weersing, V. R. (2010). Comorbidity of anxiety and depression in youth: Implications for treatment and prevention. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 17, 293–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginsburg, G. S., La Greca, A. M., & Silverman, W. K. (1998). Social anxiety in children with anxiety disorders: Relation with social and emotional functioning. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 26(3), 75–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, B. F., Hasin, D., Blanco, C., Stinson, F. S., Chou, S. P., Goldstein, R. B., et al. (2005). The epidemiology of social anxiety disorder in the United States: Results from the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 66(11), 1351–1361.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Guy, W. (1976). Clinical global impression scale. The ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology-Revised. Volume DHEW Publ No ADM, 76(338), 218–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hankin, B. L. (2009). Development of sex differences in depressive and co-occurring anxious symptoms during adolescence: Descriptive trajectories and potential explanations in a multi-wave prospective study. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 38, 460–472.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Herge, W. M., La Greca, A. M., & Chan, S. R. (2016). Adolescent peer victimization and physical health problems. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 41(1), 15–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hough, R. L., Hazen, A., & Soriano, F. (2002). Mental health care for Latinos: Mental health services for Latino adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric Service, 53, 1556–1562.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kärnä, A., Voeten, M., Little, T. D., Poskiparta, E., Alanen, E., & Salmivalli, C. (2011). Going to scale: A nonrandomized nationwide trial of the KiVa antibullying program for grades 1–9. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79(6), 796–805.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kataoka, S. H., Zhang, L., & Wells, K. B. (2002). Unmet need for mental health care among U.S. children: Variation by ethnicity and insurance status. American Journal of Psychiatry, 159(9), 1548–1555.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, P. C., Furr, J. M., & Podell, J. L. (2010). Child-focused treatment of anxiety. In J. Weisz & A. Kazdin (Eds.), Evidence-based psychotherapies for children and adolescents (2nd ed., pp. 45–60). New York, NY: Guildford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • La Greca, A. M. (1999). Manual for the social anxiety scales for children and adolescents—revised. Miami, FL: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • La Greca, A. M., & Harrison, H. M. (2005). Adolescent peer relations, friendships, and romantic relationships: Do they predict social anxiety and depression? Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 34(1), 49–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • La Greca, A. M., & Lai, B. (2014). The role of peer relationships in youth psychopathology. In B. Chu & J. Ehrenreich-May (Eds.), Transdiagnostic mechanisms and treatment of youth psychopathology (pp. 111–137). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • La Greca, A. M., & Landoll, R. R. (2011). Peer influences in the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders. In W. K. Silverman & A. Field (Eds.), Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: Research, assessment, and intervention (2nd ed.). London: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • La Greca, A. M., & Lopez, N. (1998). Social anxiety among adolescents: Linkages with peer relations and friendships. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 26(2), 83–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • La Greca, A.M., Young, J. E., Mufson, L., Ehrenreich-May, J., & Girio-Herrera, E. (2015). Manual for the PEERS/UTalk version of Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training. Authors: University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL. (Available from first author).

  • Landoll, R. L., La Greca, A. M., Lai, B. S., Chan, S., & Herge, W. (2015). Cyber victimization by peers: Prospective associations with adolescent social anxiety and depressive symptoms. Journal of Adolescence, 42, 77–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lenhart, A., Purcell, K., Smith, A., & Zickuhr, K. (2010). Social media and young adults. Pew Research Internet Project. Retrieved on 24 May 2016, from http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1484/social-media-mobile-internet-use-teens-millennials-fewer-blog.

  • Lipsitz, J. D., Gur, M., Vermes, D., Petkova, E., Cheng, J., Miller, N., et al. (2008). A randomized trial of interpersonal therapy versus supportive therapy for social anxiety disorder. Depression and Anxiety, 25(6), 542–553.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Masia Warner, C., Colognori, D., Brice, C., & Sanchez, A. (2015). A school-based intervention for adolescents with Social Anxiety Disorder. In K. Ranta, A. M. La Greca, M. Marttunen, & L. J. Garcia-Lopez (Eds.), Social anxiety and social phobia in adolescents: Development, manifestation, and treatment strategies (pp. 271–288). New York, NY: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Masia Warner, C., Fisher, P. H., Shrout, P. E., Rathor, S., & Klein, R. G. (2007). Treating adolescents with social anxiety disorder in school: An attention control trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 48, 676–686.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin, K. A., Hatzenbuehler, M. L., & Hilt, L. M. (2009). Emotion dysregulation as a mechanism linking peer victimization to internalizing symptoms in adolescents. Journal of Consulting Clinical Psychology, 77(5), 894–904.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Merikangas, K. R., He, J. P., Brody, D., Fisher, P. W., Bourdon, K., & Koretz, D. S. (2010). Prevalence and treatment of mental disorders among US children in the 2001–2004 NHANES. Pediatrics, 125(1), 75–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miami-Dade County Public Schools (2013). Statistical Highlights, 201213. Retrieved on 19 May 2016, from http://drs.dadeschools.net/StatisticalHighlights/SH1213_Final.pdf.

  • Mufson, L., Dorta, K. P., Moreau, D., & Weissman, M. M. (2004a). Interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Publications Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mufson, L., Dorta, K. P., Wickramaratne, P., Nomura, Y., Olfson, M., & Weissman, M. M. (2004b). A randomized effectiveness trial of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for depressed adolescents. Archives of General Psychiatry, 61, 577–584.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mufson, L., Gallagher, T., Dorta, K. P., & Young, J. F. (2004c). Interpersonal psychotherapy for adolescent depression: Adaptation for group therapy. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 58, 220–237.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mufson, L., La Greca, A. M., Young, J., & Ehrenreich-May, J. (2015). Interpersonal approaches to intervention: Implications for preventing and treating social anxiety in adolescents. In K. Ranta, A. M. La Greca, M. Marttunen, & L. J. Garcia-Lopez (Eds.), Social anxiety and social phobia in adolescents: Development, manifestation, and treatment strategies (pp. 251–270). Switzerland: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Olweus, D. (1993). Bullying at school: What we know and what we can do. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Posner, K., Brent, D., Lucas, C., Gould, M., Stanley, B., Brown, G., et al. (2009). Columbia-suicide severity rating scale., Manual for the Columbia suicide severity rating scale New York, NY: New York State Psychiatric Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Procidano, M. E., & Heller, K. (1983). Measures of perceived social support from friends and from family: Three validation studies. American Journal of Community Psychology, 11(1), 1–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranta, K., Kaltiala-Heino, R., Pelkonen, M., & Marttunen, M. (2009). Associations between peer victimization, self-reported depression and social phobia among adolescents: The role of comorbidity. Journal of Adolescence, 32(1), 77–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rudolph, K. D., Hammen, C., Burge, D., Lindberg, N., Herzberg, D., & Daley, S. E. (2000). Toward an interpersonal life-stress model of depression: The developmental context of stress generation. Development and Psychopathology, 12, 215–234.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salmivalli, C., Sainio, M., & Hodges, E. (2013). Electronic victimization: Correlates, antecedents, and consequences among elementary and middle school students. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 42(4), 442–453.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sburlati, E. S., Lyneham, H. J., Mufson, L., & Schneiring, C. A. (2012). A model of therapist competencies for the empirically supported Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescent Depression. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 15, 93–112.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, R. S., La Greca, A. M., & Harrison, H. M. (2009). Peer victimization and social anxiety in adolescents: Prospective and reciprocal relationships. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38(8), 1096–1109.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, W. K., & Albano, A. M. (1996). The anxiety disorders interview schedule for DSM-IV—child and parent versions. London: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solberg, M. E., & Olweus, D. (2003). Prevalence estimation of school bullying with the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. Aggressive Behavior, 29, 239–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stein, M. B., Fuetsch, M., Muller, N., Hölfer, M., Lieb, D. R., & Wittchen, H. (2001). Social anxiety disorder and the risk of depression: A prospective community study of adolescents and young adults. Archives of General Psychiatry, 58(3), 251–256.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stice, E., Shaw, H., Bohon, C., Marti, C. N., & Rohde, P. (2009). A meta-analytic review of depression prevention programs for children and adolescents: Factors that predict magnitude of intervention effects. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77, 486–503.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Storch, E. A., Brassard, M. R., & Masia-Warner, C. (2003). The relationship of peer victimization to social anxiety and loneliness in adolescence. Child Study Journal, 33(1), 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Storch, E. A., Masia-Warner, C., Crisp, H., & Klein, R. G. (2005). Peer victimization and social anxiety in adolescence: A prospective study. Aggressive Behavior, 31(5), 437–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storch, E. A., Masia-Warner, C., Dent, H. C., Roberti, J. W., & Fisher, P. H. (2004). Psychometric evaluation of the Social Anxiety Scale For Adolescents and the Social Phobia And Anxiety Inventory For Children: Construct validity and normative data. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 18, 665–679.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vernberg, E. M., Abwender, D. A., Ewell, K. K., & Beery, S. H. (1992). Social anxiety and peer relationships in early adolescence: A prospective analysis. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 21(2), 189–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weems, C. F., Scott, B. G., Graham, R. A., Banks, D. M., Russell, J. D., Taylor, L. K., et al. (2015). Fitting anxious emotion focused intervention into the ecology of schools: Results from a test anxiety program evaluation. Prevention Science, 16, 200–210.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, K. R., & Guerra, N. G. (2007). Prevalence and predictors of Internet bullying. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41(6), S14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, J. J., Piacentini, J. C., Bergman, R. L., McCracken, J., & Barrios, V. (2002). Concurrent validity of the anxiety disorders section of the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV: Child and parent versions. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 31, 335–342.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Young, J. F., & Mufson, L. (2012). Manual for Interpersonal Psychotherapy: Adolescent Skills Training (IPT-AST). Authors.

  • Young, J. F., Mufson, L., & Davies, M. (2006). Efficacy of interpersonal psychotherapy-adolescent skills training: An indicated preventive intervention for depression. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47(12), 1254–1262.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Young, J. F., Mufson, L., & Gallop, R. (2010). Preventing depression: A randomized trial of interpersonal psychotherapy-adolescent skills training. Depression and Anxiety, 27(5), 426–433.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (R34 MH095959) to the first author (PI) and the next two co-authors (Co-Is). The effort of the last author was supported in part by funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Doctoral Foreign Study Award (#201210DFS-303899-191868).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Annette M. La Greca.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Laura Mufson, Ph.D. receives book royalties from Guilford Publications, Inc. and Oxford University Press for publications on Interpersonal Psychotherapy for depressed adolescents and Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Adolescent Skills Training respectively. The other authors have no conflict of interest.

Research Involving Human Participants

All procedures performed in the study were in accordance with national and institutional ethical standards for research with human subjects and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained for all participants. In general, written informed parental consent and written adolescent assent were required for all adolescents prior to participating in the screening phase of the open trial. Separate written parental consent and written adolescent assent were required for all adolescents participating in the open trial intervention.

Access to Data

The first author and fourth authors take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analyses.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

La Greca, A.M., Ehrenreich-May, J., Mufson, L. et al. Preventing Adolescent Social Anxiety and Depression and Reducing Peer Victimization: Intervention Development and Open Trial. Child Youth Care Forum 45, 905–926 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-016-9363-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-016-9363-0

Keywords

Navigation