Background and Aims

Previous research suggests that well-being interventions are effective in moderating substance and digital media use and improving mental health. This study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a school-based Positive Psychology Addiction Prevention (PPAP) intervention aimed at reducing substance and digital media use and increasing the mental health of school children during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Method

The sample was composed of 1,670 children and adolescents (Mean age=12.96, SD=2.01) from six elementary and secondary schools in Israel who were randomly assigned to the PPAP intervention (n=833) or the waiting-list control conditions (n=837). The PPAP program is a a two-year school-based curriculum delivered by the classroom teachers after specialized training to children and adolescents during the school year.  A three-year longitudinal repeated-measures randomized control design was used to examine modifications in substance use, digital media use, and psychological symptoms in the intervention and control groups assessed on the pre-test (before the outbreak of COVID-19, September 2019), the post-test (May 2021), and the 12-month follow-up (May 2022).

Results

The 12-month prevalence of tobacco use, alcohol use, and cannabis use decreased significantly from the pre- to the follow-up period in the intervention group, and increased significantly in the control group. Daily digital media use increased during the pandemic period in both groups, with a significantly higher increase in the control group. The intervention group reported significantly lower psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, and somatization) after the intervention and at follow-up compared to the control group.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted the lives of children and adolescents. Positive psychology prevention interventions may be effective in improving the mental health of school children during pandemics and crisis periods.