Penn Prevention Program (PPP)

Best practices for directing interventions for children and youth

The Penn Prevention Program (PPP) is a five-year prospective American research program that aims to prevent future depressive symptoms among 10- to 13-year-old children who are at risk. The program has two main components:

• a cognitive component, which encourages children to develop a flexible thinking style and learn to evaluate the accuracy of their beliefs
• a social problem-solving component, which teaches children skills such as goal-setting, perspective-taking and decision-making.

In addition, the program provides direct training on coping with family conflict and other stressors, and addresses lowered academic achievement, poor peer relations, lowered self-esteem and behavioural problems.

Reference

Jaycox, L., Reivich, K., Gillham, J. & Seligman, M. (1994). Prevention of depressive symptoms in school children. Behavior Research Therapy, 32 (8), 810–816.

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