Session: Synthesizing the Evidence to Improve Outcomes for Trauma-Affected Populations (Society for Prevention Research 26th Annual Meeting)

SESSION INTRODUCTION: Prevention of poor mental health outcomes among populations facing adversity has been a topic of study for decades, yet significant gaps in knowledge remain regarding what works when, and for whom, in terms of evidence-based prevention programming. The goal of this symposium session is to present a series of systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses to evaluate programmatic and contextual factors influencing outcomes for individuals exposed to traumatic events. The symposium supports the conference themes of epidemiology and etiology and intervention evaluation, and brings together a diverse group of researchers and perspectives in this field.

The first paper, “A Meta-analysis of Parenting Practices and Child Psychosocial Outcomes in Trauma-Informed Parenting Interventions”, conducted six meta-analyses on 21 trauma-informed parenting interventions to assess intervention effects on parenting practices and stress and children’s mental health symptoms. Results support effectiveness of trauma-informed parenting interventions on improving positive parenting practices and decreasing child mental health symptoms, supporting models of trauma-informed care that situate treatment within the family and broader social context.

The second paper, “Who, When, How, and Why Bystanders Intervene in Adolescent Relationship Abuse” synthesizes information from 18 articles examining bystander intervention in adolescent relationship abuse. Results suggest that bystander intervention is influenced by the gender of the victim, level of familiarity with the individuals involved, a moral sense of responsibility, confidence, and self-efficacy for intervention. Important barriers to intervention are also highlighted, which is critical for prevention efforts to improve bystander behavior.

The third paper, “Evaluating the evidence base for psychosocial support programs in low-resource humanitarian settings”, describes an ongoing systematic review examining the state of evidence for broadly supportive “psychosocial programming” in humanitarian settings. The paper highlights the challenge that these types of programs are less scrutinized than treatment interventions in these settings, leaving much to learn in terms of what programs are effective in preventing distress and promoting wellbeing and resilience. Findings from this paper will be used to develop a research strategy to address these barriers.

Following the presentations, the discussant will provide summary comments and lead an audience-focused discussion on lessons learned, strengths and gaps, and what is needed to move the field forward in these areas. It is expected that the breadth of research reported on through these systematic reviews will make this symposium interesting and relevant to a diverse range of conference attendees.