Competence and Coping in the Family Group Cognitive Behavioral (FGCB) Preventive Intervention: a Moderated Mediation Model in Youth at Risk for Depression.

Abstract

Adolescents exposed to parental depression are at increased risk of developing internalizing and externalizing disorders. The Family Group Cognitive Behavioral (FGCB) intervention (Compas et al., 2015) is an evidence-based prevention program designed to reduce this risk by enhancing youth coping skills. However, it remains unclear which youth benefit most from this intervention. Competence, an indicator of youth resilience, may help identify those most likely to respond. This randomized controlled trial examined whether baseline youth competence moderated the effect of FGCB on coping at 6-month follow-up and whether improved coping subsequently mediated reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms at 12 months. Participants included 180 youth (ages 9-15; M = 11.46 years, SD = 2.00) and their parents with a history of depression, randomly assigned to either the FGCB intervention or a written information control condition. Moderated mediation analyses revealed that FGCB significantly improved coping only among youth with average to high levels of competence. In turn, coping predicted lower internalizing symptoms. Findings highlight competence as a key factor shaping intervention response and emphasize the need for tailored prevention efforts to support at-risk youth.