6-Year Follow-up of a Prevention Program for Bereaved Families

6-Year Follow-up of a Prevention Program for Bereaved Families

Six-years following participation in the Family Bereavement Program (FBP) participants in the program as compared to a self-study control group will have lower levels of mental health problems, lower one-year prevalence of mental disorder that meets diagnostic criteria, lower use of substances, higher levels of competence at achieving developmentally appropriate tasks in academic achievement and social competence, and better self-esteem. The effects of the FBP will be moderated by baseline levels of mental health problems and gender. Bereaved caregivers who participated in the program will also show lower levels of mental health problems as compared with controls.

Program effects will be mediated by theoretical mediators targeted by the program.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Experienced parental death in prior 30 months
• Youth age 8-16 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not currently in other treatment for mental health problems
• Caregiver not meet criteria for clinical depression
• Youth not meet criteria for externalizing problems
• Not currently suicidal