A Randomised Controlled Trial of the I-Deal Life Skills Intervention with Syrian Refugee Adolescents in Northern Lebanon

• DOI: 10.4103/intv.intv_4_20
• Publication Date: 2023-10-04T07:58:00Z
• Authors: KennethE Miller; GabrielaV Koppeno...; Ali Jawad; Frederik Steen; Myriam Sassine; MarkJ.D Jordans
• Keywords: Prosocial Behavior

Armed conflict and displacement pose threats to children’s mental health psychosocial wellbeing. We report on the findings of an evaluation I-Deal, a life skills intervention aimed at fostering resilience among early adolescent refugees. used parallel group randomised controlled trial compare I-Deal structured recreational activity (SRA). 325 adolescents in Akkar, Lebanon, 74% them Syrian, were or SRA. The primary outcome was wellbeing; secondary outcomes included psychological distress, prosocial behaviour, hope, self-esteem social connectedness. Assessments conducted baseline, endline 3-month follow-up. Due low reliabilities, only wellbeing, distress hope analyses. These showed similar results: no statistically significant changes over time, differences between groups interaction time. Our do not support effectiveness I-Deal. Several factors are considered that may help explain lack effect, including aspects design, possible measurement error suggested by reliabilities several instruments ceiling effect our outcome. A replication using rigorously piloted instruments, selection more specifically tailored nonactive control condition could provide definitive evidence regarding intervention.