| Experiencing depression in adolescence can impair the adolescent's ability to function in a number of areas, including school and relationships. Additionally, the development of depression in adolescence has been associated with a more chronic course of illness in adulthood (Garber et al., 2009). Given that approximately half of first episodes of depression begin in adolescence, prevention and early intervention efforts are crucial in helping adolescents learn skills and behaviors that could impact their current and future mental health (Kessler, Avenevoli, & Marikangas, 2001). A number of depression prevention programs have been developed and researched, and most have focused on teaching cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, or positive psychology skills. The current study evaluates the effects of a depression prevention program, InJoy, which utilizes interventions that target the modifiable risk factors for depression: cognitive factors, stress, poor interpersonal relationships, and subsyndromal depression. The 8-week program combines the teaching of positive psychology, cognitive-behavioral, and interpersonal skills, with the aim of engaging the adolescents through the use of an Internet platform.;The present study took place in a high school; one class of 26 students was assigned to the intervention program, InJoy, and one class of 32 students was assigned to the control program. Change scores were computed from pre to post test and independent samples t-tests were conducted on all measures. InJoy showed good, albeit small, effects on coping and emotion regulation, and less of an increase in the progression of depressive symptoms for students in the universal population (students at low-risk for depression). However, in the current study, InJoy did not have an effect on decreasing depressive symptoms in the target population (students at high risk for depression). Significant differences were found for engagement; students in both the universal and targeted populations found InJoy to be significantly more helpful and interesting than the control program. |
