The Impact of the FRIENDS Emotional Health Programme on Anxiety, Self-Statements and Coping Strategies in Children

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the FRIENDS programme - a ten week
cognitive behavioural intervention for anxiety in children - on anxiety, negative selfstatements
and coping strategies. The study took place in a large county within the south of
England. Five schools agreed to participate in the study and parental and child consent was
obtained for 83 participants. The children included in the study were aged between 9 and
10 years of age.
The study utilised a quasi-experimental design incorporating an experimental and wait-list
control group and pre- and post-test measures. The measures consisted of self-report
questionnaires which were used to record changes in anxiety, use of negative selfstatements
and coping strategies.
The findings showed the intervention was effective in increasing the use of approach coping
strategies in children, although there was no significant reduction in avoidant coping
strategies, as hypothesised. However, the expected reduction in anxiety was not evidenced.
Furthermore, the intervention was found to significantly increase the self-reported use of
negative self-statements.
These findings are then discussed in relation to previous literature in the field and the
implications for professional practice and recommendations for future research are then
noted. It is concluded that, until the long term effects of this programme on negative selfstatements
and coping are known, the results from this study can not be used to support the
recommended use of the FRIENDS programme in schools. Further research is therefore
needed to ascertain the long term impact of the programme on negative self-statements
and coping. Further research can also usefully investigate the relationships between
negative self-statements and anxiety and also coping and anxiety.

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