Teaching healthy relationship skills to middle school students can have lasting positive effects on mental health, according to a study conducted by UTHealth Houston researchers. The study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, examined the impact of a program called the Fourth R, which aims to teach adolescents about healthy relationships and reduce violence.
The research team, led by Jeff Temple, PhD, associate dean for clinical research at UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences, found that students who participated in the Fourth R program were less likely to experience depression five years after completing it compared to those who did not participate. "That this program helps prevent adolescent relationship abuse wasn’t necessarily surprising," said Temple. "The secondary benefit that we showed, that it helps these kids with depression, is just incredible."
Implemented in 12 middle schools across southeast Texas in 2018, the Fourth R curriculum was taught by trained health teachers. It focused on reducing teen dating violence and identifying risk behaviors like bullying and substance misuse. Although not directly aimed at preventing depression and anxiety, the findings suggest that fostering healthy relationships can enhance youth mental health.
Temple highlighted the prevalence of relationship abuse among youth, noting that about one-third will encounter some form of it by high school graduation. Furthermore, around 20% of high school students are expected to suffer from major depression before graduating. He stated: "We have high rates of violence in society and unhappy relationships. This study shows that programs like Fourth R can prevent bad things from happening to our kids."
Additional contributors from UTHealth Houston's Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences include Elizabeth Baumler, PhD, and Leila Wood, PhD, MSSW.
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