Discussion
trauma, depressive, depressive symptoms
SECONDARY
In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, we hypothesized that participation in the SAAF program would attenuate the association of racial discrimination at age 13 years with increases in depressive symptoms at age 14 years. Secondary analysis of SAAF trial data confirmed study hypotheses. For adolescents who were not assigned to SAAF, racial discrimination was associated with significant increases depressive symptoms; however, for adolescents whose families were assigned to SAAF, there was no significant association of experiences of racial discrimination with depressive symptoms. This moderation was observed using an intent-to-treat design and accounting for family socioeconomic disadvantage and youth sex. These findings highlight the need for preventive interventions that can buffer adolescents from the consequences of discrimination.Considerable evidence from clinical and animal model research underscores how social relationships in general, and family relationships in particular, play critical roles in regulating physiological and neurocognitive responses to stress and trauma.Study findings are consistent with recent research on the buffering influence of family-centered interventions among older adolescentsStudy findings may also be interpreted from the perspective of racial discrimination as a moderator of intervention effects. This suggests that in the context of racial discrimination, SAAF’s efficacy may be amplified. It is plausible that in the presence of elevated discrimination, SAAF is particularly salient and engaging for adolescents, augmenting the effects of the curriculum content. This is consistent with research demonstrating that prevention effects may be amplified by baseline risk exposure.