Preliminary Effectiveness of a Brief School-Based HERO Intervention: Improving the Wellbeing of Final Year Adolescent Female Students.

Young people face multiple challenges, including appearance dissatisfaction, academic stressors, anxiety and depression. These challenges may increase during the final year of high school and may have become further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines the preliminary effectiveness of a brief, uncontrolled school-based intervention aimed at enhancing Psychological Capital (PsyCap), consisting of positive resources of hope, self-efficacy, resilience and optimism (HERO), and reducing mental health symptoms among female year 12 students (n = 95, Mage = 16.78, SD = 0.45). Outcomes on measures of HERO and secondary outcomes of flourishing, appearance dissatisfaction, anxiety and depression were measured at pre and post-intervention. In the overall cohort, no significant changes were found on the HERO outcomes or flourishing post-intervention, while symptoms of depression, anxiety and appearance dissatisfaction decreased significantly. For students with higher baseline anxiety, optimism and anxiety symptoms improved significantly at post-intervention. However, students with lower baseline anxiety experienced significant decreases in self-efficacy and optimism, as well as a significant increase in anxiety symptoms post-intervention. Baseline depression levels did not impact intervention outcomes. The findings, although mixed and limited by the lack of control group, suggest that a brief intervention grounded in PsyCap theory may improve student wellbeing under challenging circumstances.

Adolescent Anxiety, Depression and Flourishing before and During COVID-19 and the Predictive Role of Baseline Psychological Capital (PsyCap) on Student Mental Health and Subjective Wellbeing During the Pandemic.

Studies indicate the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in rises in adolescent mental health symptoms globally, although the impact of the pandemic on subjective wellbeing is under-researched in this population. Psychological capital (PsyCap), a cluster of four positive psychological constructs comprising hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism (HERO), has demonstrated preventative and promotive qualities on mental health symptoms and subjective wellbeing outcomes with adult populations (employees, university students). However, PsyCap's influence on these outcomes in young people is unclear. The present exploratory study investigated changes in self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms (measured via the RCADS-SV) and subjective wellbeing (measured by the Flourishing Scale) from pre-pandemic levels to 3 months into the pandemic and explored gender differences at each time point in a sample of Australian Year 10 students (N = 56, Mage = 14.93 years, SD = 0.50, 51.8% male). The longitudinal predictive role of baseline PsyCap on follow-up assessments of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms and flourishing were also examined. There were no significant changes in levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms between the timepoints, but flourishing significantly declined from T1 to T2. Baseline PsyCap was not a significant predictor of T2 anxiety and depressive symptoms but was a significant predictor of T2 flourishing. Further, different baseline HERO constructs predicted T2 mental health symptoms and flourishing. Future larger studies building on the current preliminary findings investigating the roles of student PsyCap, mental health and subjective wellbeing are warranted to better understand these constructs in the COVID-19 era and beyond.

Developing the HERO within: Evaluation of a brief intervention for increasing Psychological Capital (PsyCap) in Australian female students during the final year of school in the first year of COVID-19.

Academic stress is linked to adolescent distress and perfectionism during the final years at school, with girls being at greater risk. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was an additional stressor that impacted student learning on a global scale. The present study examines the effectiveness of an intervention targeting Psychological Capital (PsyCap), comprising hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism (HERO) to increase these HERO resources and assess its impact on mental health symptoms and subjective wellbeing outcomes among a cohort of Year 12 students (n = 82, Mage = 17.09, SD = 0.28, 99% identifying as female) from a girls school during the first year of the pandemic. Primary outcomes of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and flourishing and secondary outcomes of HERO variables and perfectionism were examined. There were no significant changes in primary outcomes. Significant changes in efficacy, optimism, omnibus PsyCap (HERO combined) and perfectionism were found at post-intervention. Findings indicate the intervention targeting HERO constructs may be promising for developing HERO capabilities in youth and reducing common areas of concern for students (e.g., perfectionism). Future research directions addressing limitations are discussed.

Examining the Process of Implementing a Three-Step Mental Health and Wellbeing System of Care for Children and Adolescents Across Multiple Community Settings.

Mental health problems affect large numbers of young people. Integrated systems are required that can be applied in diverse settings to reach youth 'where they are'. We evaluated the process of implementing a three-step youth mental health and wellbeing system in diverse community settings according to three implementation outcomes: feasibility, penetration and acceptability. The study describes 49 applications of the 'Life-Fit-Learning system' designed to assess the mental health and wellbeing of youth (Assess step), provide feedback on assessment results (Reflect step), and connect them to resources and services proportionate to their needs (Connect step). Within a participatory research approach, 3798 administrations were conducted with youth between 9 and 18 years and 90 administrations were conducted with adults. Implementation was based on the four phases of the Quality Implementation Framework and was staged to integrate stakeholder and consumer feedback and experience gained from focus groups and two pilot phases before full implementation. Feasibility ratings of successful implementation ranged from 86.7 to 96.4% across applications and settings. High penetration rates were achieved. The Life-Fit-Learning system successfully reached 91.9% to 96% of youth with the Assess and Reflect steps and low intensity Connect step resources. Of those, 14.7% to 23% were identified at-risk for mental health problems and 93% to 97% of those at-risk youth additionally received Connect step co-delivered group-based programs (moderate intensity care) and/or individual treatment (high intensity care). Youth and parents reported high satisfaction across all steps and delivery modes. With strong collaboration, an integrated model of care can be delivered feasibly, effectively and satisfactorily to reach large numbers of young people across settings.

Joining the pieces in childhood irritability: Distinct typologies predict conduct, depressive, and anxiety symptoms.

This study utilised a person-centered approach to understand childhood irritability as a transdiagnostic feature of psychopathology. Latent profile analysis was employed within a community sample (n = 93) of 9-11 year olds to identify typologies of self-regulation capabilities, positive wellbeing characteristics of hope and flourishing, and social functioning that cluster with children's irritability to mitigate risk for psychopathology symptoms. Three distinct profiles of youth were derived, High Irritability/Low Self-Regulation of Negative Emotion (9%), Moderate Irritability/Low Behavioural Control (34%) and Low Irritability/High Positive Wellbeing Characteristics (57%). Profiles were empirically validated and differentially related to symptoms of anxiety, depression and conduct problems. Notably, High Irritability/Low Self-Regulation of Negative Emotion children were characterised by the highest levels of irritability and peer problems and the lowest self-regulation of negative emotion, prosocial behaviours, hope and flourishing relative to children within the other profiles, pointing to the potential utility of future targeted, transdiagnostic interventions. Within our community-based sample, a protective profile of Low Irritability/High Positive Wellbeing Characteristics children were also described by the lowest levels of irritability and peer problems and the highest positive and negative emotion self-regulation, behavioural control, prosocial behaviours, hope and flourishing. Findings demonstrate that different levels of irritability severity cluster with different self-regulation capabilities and wellbeing characteristics and predict risk for different types of psychopathology. Targeted interventions should seek to address children's irritability alongside self-regulation and positive wellbeing characteristics to further mitigate risks of psychopathology and associated problems.

Searching for the HERO in Youth: Does Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Predict Mental Health Symptoms and Subjective Wellbeing in Australian School-Aged Children and Adolescents?

Psychological capital (PsyCap) comprising the positive psychological resources of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism (HERO) has strong empirical associations with increased wellbeing and reduced mental health symptoms in adult samples. Emerging studies of PsyCap among school-age students have also shown preliminary, positive associations between PsyCap and student wellbeing. The present study is the first to examine PsyCap-HERO constructs and associations with both mental health symptoms and subjective wellbeing in school-aged children and adolescents (aged 9-14 years). A convenience sample of Australian school students (N = 456, Mage = 11.54, SD = 1.20, 47% female) completed an online survey during class time. Measures of hope, efficacy, resilience, optimism, flourishing, anxiety, and depression previously well-validated in school samples were used. Significant associations between each HERO construct and flourishing, anxiety and depression symptoms in the expected direction were found, and importantly, the combination of HERO constructs was shown to be a stronger predictor of increased levels of student flourishing, and decreased levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, than individual HERO constructs. Findings indicate that student PsyCap may be a promising area of further investigation for schools, policymakers, clinicians and researchers looking to identify positive psychological resources in youth that may buffer poor mental health and promote wellbeing.