Universal Prevention of Anxiety and Depression in a Recreational Camp Setting: An Initial Open Trial

Anxiety and depressive disorders may pose a long-term, deleterious impact on youth, prompting a need for early and effective
prevention of such concerns. A growing body of research has examined universal prevention programs targeting these emotional
disorders in childhood. While most universal prevention programs are offered within the school setting, there is also a rationale
for developing and investigating prevention programs within novel settings, including a recreational context. This initial
investigation utilized the Emotion Detectives
Prevention Program (EDPP), a universal prevention protocol focusing on anxiety and depression symptoms within a recreational summer camp. The
aims of this pilot study were to assess the EDPP’s feasibility and participant satisfaction following its initial administration
in a camp setting. Forty children (ages 7–10 years, 70.7% male) were recruited from an existent recreational sports camp and
participated in a non-randomized, open trial of the EDPP. The EDPP, a 15-session program, presents cognitive-behavioral strategies
in a manner that emphasizes strategy applicability across a range of emotional experiences. Participating children reported
a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms at post–prevention. No significant change in depression symptoms or other emotion
regulation indices were reported. Moderate to high participant satisfaction was indicated. The EDPP appears to be a feasible
program for the prevention of child-reported anxiety symptoms in a camp setting. Given the novelty of the prevention context,
issues inherent in the conduct of research in a recreational camp setting and future directions for research in this setting
are discussed.