TY - JOUR
T1 - Reducing the Biological and Psychological Toxicity of Poverty-related Stress
T2 - Initial Efficacy of the BaSICS Intervention for Early Adolescents
AU - Wadsworth, Martha E.
AU - McDonald, Ashley
AU - Joos, Celina M.
AU - Ahlkvist, Jarl A.
AU - Perzow, Sarah E.D.
AU - Tilghman-Osborne, Emile M.
AU - Creavey, Kristine
AU - Brelsford, Gina M.
N1 - Funding Information:
The preparation of this manuscript was supported by grants R21MH107631 and R33MH107631 from the National Institute of Mental Health awarded to Martha E. Wadsworth.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Society for Community Research and Action
PY - 2020/6/1
Y1 - 2020/6/1
N2 - This proof-of-concept study tests the initial efficacy of the Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills (BaSICS) intervention, a selective prevention of internalizing problems program for early adolescents exposed to high levels of poverty-related stress. Eighty-four early adolescents (Mage = 11.36 years) residing in very low-income neighborhoods were randomized to receive the 16-session intervention (n = 44) or to an assessment-only control condition (n = 40). BaSICS teaches coping skills, social identity development, and collective social action to empower youth with the ability to connect with members of their communities and cope with poverty-related stress in positive and collaborative ways. Pretest–posttest analyses showed that intervention adolescents acquired problem-solving and cognitive-restructuring skills and reduced their reliance on avoidant coping. In addition, HPA reactivity was significantly reduced in the intervention youth, but not controls. Finally, intervention youth's internalizing and somatic symptoms as reported by both youth and their parents, showed significant reductions over time, whereas control youth had no such changes. Results provide strong support for this approach to strength-building and symptom reduction in a population of early adolescents exposed to poverty-related stress.
AB - This proof-of-concept study tests the initial efficacy of the Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills (BaSICS) intervention, a selective prevention of internalizing problems program for early adolescents exposed to high levels of poverty-related stress. Eighty-four early adolescents (Mage = 11.36 years) residing in very low-income neighborhoods were randomized to receive the 16-session intervention (n = 44) or to an assessment-only control condition (n = 40). BaSICS teaches coping skills, social identity development, and collective social action to empower youth with the ability to connect with members of their communities and cope with poverty-related stress in positive and collaborative ways. Pretest–posttest analyses showed that intervention adolescents acquired problem-solving and cognitive-restructuring skills and reduced their reliance on avoidant coping. In addition, HPA reactivity was significantly reduced in the intervention youth, but not controls. Finally, intervention youth's internalizing and somatic symptoms as reported by both youth and their parents, showed significant reductions over time, whereas control youth had no such changes. Results provide strong support for this approach to strength-building and symptom reduction in a population of early adolescents exposed to poverty-related stress.
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U2 - 10.1002/ajcp.12400
DO - 10.1002/ajcp.12400
M3 - Article
C2 - 31602689
AN - SCOPUS:85074024717
SN - 0091-0562
VL - 65
SP - 305
EP - 319
JO - American Journal of Community Psychology
JF - American Journal of Community Psychology
IS - 3-4
ER -
