Systematic review and classification of: Zippys Friends (2. ed.)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7557/25.7593Keywords:
Systematic review, universal prevention, school-based, fourth grade, stress, stress managementAbstract
Background: This article is a systematic review of the effects of the Zippy´s Friends program in Norway. The intervention is a universal school-based intervention for children in the first to fourth grade. Primary aim of the intervention is to strengthen children’s ability to cope with stress. The intervention includes weekly sessions, and is based on stress-coping theories (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). The intervention is implemented in Norway by the organization Adults for Children
Method: This review was based on a systematic literature search of the databases Embase, Medline and Psykinfo, NORART Cochrane, Cristin, NORA, SCOPUS and SweMed. Two Nordic effect studies were included. This article is a revision of a previous review of the same intervention (Bjørknes, 2013), revised according the new scientific criteria for classification in Ungsinn.
Results: The results include a review of the description of the intervention, existing effect studies, quality of research methods, and implementation. The intervention is described well in the literature, and the aims and target groups are adequately defined. Two studies examining the effect of the intervention have been conducted. One study used a quasi-experimental design, the second a randomized cluster design, both with a comparison group and pre-post assessments. One of the studies had good methodological quality. This study showed positive effects on children’s ability to cope with stress and to seek support . The other study had unsatisfactory methodological quality, and the findings are therefore less reliable.
Conclusion: Based on Ungsinn’s criteria the Zippy´s Friends program was classified at level 4 – Intervention with satisfactory evidence of efficacy.
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Copyright (c) 2018 Simon-Peter Neumer, Børge Mathiassen, Ragnhild Bjørknes
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