Table 4 Effects of intervention at T2 and T3 (FAS)

Sense of Coping Difficulty subscale

Intervention

13.3

2.5

11.2

2.4

11.6

2.2

 < .001

 < .001

Control

13.4

2.4

13.3

2.9

13.3

2.9

Actual behaviors and attitude

n

%

n

%

n

%

p 2)

1. Looked at children from the perspective of a child in need of support

Intervention

45

51.7

n/a

n/a

75

87.2

n/a

0.002

Control

38

45.2

n/a

n/a

55

67.1

2. Recognized the presence of child(ren) in need of support

Intervention

34

39.1

n/a

n/a

44

51.2

n/a

0.880

Control

39

46.4

n/a

n/a

41

50.0

3. Consulted other schoolteachers about child(ren) in need of support

Intervention

36

41.4

n/a

n/a

45

52.3

n/a

0.763

Control

36

42.9

n/a

n/a

41

50.0

Knowledge (corrected)

n

%

n

%

n

%

p 2)

1. Mental illness affects 1 in 5 people in their lifetime

Intervention

62

71.3

78

90.7

79

91.9

 < 0.001

0.020

Control

60

71.4

56

68.3

65

79.3

2. Alcoholism and gambling addiction are also mental illnesses

Intervention

73

83.9

86

100.0

85

98.8

0.026 **

0.614 **

Control

74

88.1

77

93.9

80

97.6

3. Approximately 1 in 20 children live with a parent with mental illness

Intervention

29

33.3

40

46.5

19

22.1

0.008

0.867

Control

27

32.1

22

26.8

19

23.2

4. Children of parents with mental illness are often aware of their parents' illnesses themselves when they reach elementary school age

Intervention

43

49.4

37

43.0

25

29.1

0.715

0.299

Control

36

42.9

33

40.2

30

36.6

5. Children of parents with mental illness often consult the school about family matters

Intervention

70

80.5

82

95.4

72

83.7

0.240 **

0.890

Control

78

92.9

74

90.2

68

82.9

6. Half of those affected by mental illness develop the illess by their mid-teens

Intervention

28

32.2

72

83.7

63

73.3

 < .001

 < .001

Control

21

25.3

31

37.8

34

41.5

7. If a parent has a mental illness, laundry and cleaning may not get done

Intervention

83

95.4

86

100.0

86

100.0

0.114 **

0.488 **

Control

78

92.8

79

96.3

81

98.8

8. Children whose parents have mental illness are prone to mental and physical illnesses

Intervention

83

95.4

85

98.8

84

97.7

1.000 **

1.000 **

Control

82

97.6

81

98.8

81

98.8

9. Performing household chores is the most common role played by children of parents with mental illness as young carers

Intervention

11

12.6

41

47.7

17

19.8

 < .001

0.115

Control

7

8.3

8

9.8

9

11.0

10. Life support services available to people with mental illness include home visiting nursing and housekeeping services

Intervention

73

83.9

75

87.2

79

91.9

0.728

0.926

Control

67

79.8

70

85.4

75

91.5

Median

IQR

Median

IQR

Median

IQR

p 3)

 Sum of 1 to 10

Intervention

6 (6–7)

8 (7–9)

7 (6–8)

 < .001

0.009

Control

6 (6–7)

6 (6–7)

6 (6–7)

Achievement of program goals

Median

IQR

Median

IQR

Median

IQR

p 3)

1. Be able to describe the impact of parental mental illness on the children's lives

Intervention

3

2–4

5

4–5

5

4–5

 < .001

 < .001

Control

3

2–4

3

2–4

4

3–5

2. Be able to describe the children's feelings

Intervention

3

2–4

5

4–5

5

4–5

 < .001

 < .001

Control

2

2–4

3

2–4

4

2–5

3. Be able to describe the significance of school for the children

Intervention

3

2–4

5

4–6

5

4–5

 < .001

 < .001

Control

3

2–5

3

2–5

4

3–5

4. Be able to recognize the children in need of support

Intervention

3

2–5

5

4–5

5

4–5

 < .001

0.055

Control

4

3–5

4

3–5

4

3–5

5. Be able to describe how to support the children

Intervention

2

2–4

5

4–6

5

4–5

 < .001

 < .001

Control

3

2–4

3

2–4

2

2–5

6. Be able to act appropriately toward the children (When you notice children in need of support)

Intervention

3

2–4

5

4–5

5

4–5

 < .001

 < .001

Control

3

2–4

4

2–5

4

3–5

7. Be able to act appropriately in school (When you notice children in need of support)

Intervention

3

2–4

5

4–6

5

4–6

 < .001

 < .001

Control

4

2–5

4

3–5

4

3–5

8. Be able to support children with hope for their future

Intervention

4

3–5

5

4–6

5

4–6

 < .001

0.002

Control

4

3–5

4

3–5

5

4–5

 Sum of 1) to 8)

Intervention

24

18–32

40

34–44

39

34–42

 < .001

 < .001

Control

25.5

20–34

28

21–35

31

24–39