The Prevention of Child and Adolescent Anxiety: A Meta-analytic Review

The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of child and adolescent anxiety prevention
programs. Mean weighted effect sizes were calculated, and studies were encoded for potential moderator variables. A statistically
significant effect size of .18 was obtained at post-intervention, which is consistent with effect sizes reported in reviews
of depression, eating disorder, and substance abuse prevention programs. However, the effect sizes obtained at follow-up yielded
mixed results. Significant moderators of program effectiveness were found including provider type (professional versus lay
provider) and the use of the FRIENDS program. In contrast, program duration, participant age, gender, and program type (universal
versus targeted) were not found to moderate program effectiveness. Clinical implications and directions for future research
are discussed, including the need for more long-term follow-up, early prevention programs, and studies that systematically
examine the impact of parent involvement on program effectiveness.