Osborn, T. L., Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Wasil, A. R., Schleider, J. L., & Weisz, J. R
Osborn, T. L., Venturo-Conerly, K. E., Wasil, A. R., Schleider, J. L., & Weisz, J. R. (2020). Depression and anxiety symptoms, social support, and demographic factors among Kenyan high school students. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 29(5), 1432-1443.
Depression and anxiety are common among Kenyan adolescents, but access to mental health care is limited. Most available interventions require trained specialists who are scarce in Kenya. This study tested whether a brief group program focused on building character strengths could reduce depression and anxiety symptoms.
103 Kenyan secondary school students with elevated depression or anxiety symptoms were randomly assigned to either Shamiri (a 4-session group intervention teaching growth mindset, gratitude, and values) or a study skills control group. Students completed assessments before, immediately after, and two weeks following the interventions.
Students in both Shamiri and study skills groups showed reduced depression and anxiety symptoms, with no significant difference between groups. Depression symptoms decreased by 27% in the Shamiri group and 31% in the control group. Both interventions were acceptable to students, with high attendance and satisfaction ratings.
Brief school-based interventions can reduce depression and anxiety symptoms in Kenyan adolescents. The study suggests that simple, scalable programs may be effective, though more research is needed to understand which specific elements drive improvement. These findings support developing accessible mental health interventions that can be delivered in school settings without requiring specialized mental health professionals.
