ALIVE uniquely brings together psychological and poverty reduction mechanisms in an effort to reduce the incidence of depression and anxiety among adolescents in Colombia, Nepal and South Africa.
Research aims and objectives:
The aim of this study is to develop and pilot-test an intervention that equips adolescents with the skills to deal with the difficulties living in poverty and strengthen self-regulation, to prevent adolescent depression and anxiety in urban settings in three low- and middle-income countries.
This aim will be achieved by addressing four key research questions:
Causal mechanisms
What are the causal mechanisms linking poverty, self-regulation, depression and anxiety among adolescents (age 10-19 years) in low- and middle-income countries?
Modular intervention
What are the key components of a modular intervention that can address the mechanisms linking poverty and self-regulation to anxiety and depression, in order to prevent depression and anxiety among at-risk adolescents living in urban poverty, in Bogotá, Cape Town and Kathmandu?
Instruments
What valid and reliable instruments are needed to measure eligibility, intervention implementation, mediators, and outcomes for a pilot randomised controlled trial in Bogotá, Cape Town and Kathmandu?
Evaluation
What is the feasibility, acceptability and cost of the intervention; and what trial procedures are required for a future fully powered multi-site randomised controlled trial in Bogotá, Cape Town and Kathmandu?
Funding information:
ALIVE is a 5-year research project funded by the Wellcome Trust [221940/Z/20/Z],
led by two Principal Investigators, Prof Crick Lund and Prof Mark Jordans at King's College London, UK.
