SOCIAL WORK AND MANAGEMENT ›› 2026, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (4): 34-44,94.

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The Intervention Effectiveness of School Social Work on Adolescent Depression and Internet Addiction From a Preventive Perspective: A Examination of the “P.A.T.H.S” Project

ZHOU Zheng1,2, HE Mei1,2, HUA Fengrui1, WANG Luying1, Daniel T.L. SHEK3,2   

  1. 1. Research Institute of Social Development, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130,China;
    2. SWUFE-POLYU Child & Youth Development Research Center, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130,China;
    3. Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong,999077,China
  • Received:2025-10-17 Online:2026-07-15 Published:2026-07-15

Abstract: Against the backdrop of the ongoing transformation and upgrading of school social work, the question of whether new practice models can yield significant outcomes has garnered increasing attention. Using the “Positive Youth Development” program as a case study, this research examines the effectiveness of a preventive intervention-based school social work model in promoting student mental health. A quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test control groups was employed. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and a diagnostic questionnaire for internet addiction were administered to both the experimental and control groups before and after the one-academic-year intervention to assess changes in depression and internet addiction levels. Results indicated that adolescents in the experimental group, who received the 18-session “Positive Youth Development” program, showed a statistically significant reduction in both depression and internet addiction scores compared to the control group. The findings confirm that this universal mental health promotion program effectively mitigates depression and internet addiction among adolescents, offering a new perspective for school social work intervention. Future practices should proactively leverage the role of school social workers in cultivation and empowerment, shifting the intervention paradigm from a singular, remedial approach to a preventive and systemic one.

Key words: school social work, positive youth development, depression, internet addiction, adolescents

CLC Number: 

  • C916
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