The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a combined intervention of summer camp and letter-writing support works to improve psychological resilience in disadvantaged adolescents in Liangshan, Sichuan. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does the "summer camp + letter-writing" intervention improve resilience in adolescents who face poverty, lack of parental care, or social risks?
Does this intervention reduce depression and anxiety symptoms?
Researchers will compare adolescents who join the summer camp and receive monthly letters to those who do not receive this program to see if the intervention helps their mental health and coping skills.
Participants will:
Attend a 5-day summer camp that includes group games, emotion expression activities, life education, and learning support
Receive monthly letters from trained university student volunteers for about 10 months after the camp. The letters will encourage them, give advice, and help them practice what they learned in the camp
Complete surveys about their resilience, depression, and anxiety before the intervention, during it, at the end, and 6 months later
This study will also look at whether the program is cost-effective, meaning if it brings mental health benefits at a reasonable cost.
Students enrolled in Grade 7 or Grade 8 (junior middle school) in selected schools in Yuexi County, Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province.
Identified as "children in adversity," including those from economically disadvantaged families, left-behind children, children with disabilities, or other children deemed at-risk by school officials.
Able to understand and complete psychological questionnaires.
Mentally and physically able to participate in group activities and engage in written communication.
Children with serious psychiatric or developmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability) that impair comprehension or participation.
Currently receiving professional psychological counseling or treatment that may interfere with the study protocol.
Participation in other mental health interventions in the past year.
Planning to transfer, drop out, or leave the region during the study period.
Xiaoxuan Liu
Lead sponsor
Zhejiang University
Sponsor institution