Is PAX-Good Behaviour Game (PAX) Associated with Better Mental Health and Educational Outcomes for First Nations Children?

Abstract

Objectives PAX, a mental health promotion approach, has been shown to decrease negative mental health outcomes and improve academic achievement. These effects have yet to be shown among Indigenous children. We evaluated PAX for improving First Nations children’s outcomes following a research process wherein community members and researchers work more collaboratively. Approach Building on a long-term relationship with Swampy Cree Tribal Council, community members, First Nations leaders and researchers worked together through all phases of the project. This cluster randomized controlled trial used population-based health, social services, and education administrative data that allowed de-identified individual-level linkages across all databases through a scrambled health number. Our cohort of 725 children from 20 First Nations schools were randomized to PAX (n=469, 11 schools) or wait-list control (n=256, 9 schools). We used propensity score weighting and multi-level modeling to estimate the differences over time (2011 up to 2020) between children exposed to PAX and those who were not. Results Differences in baseline characteristics were found between the two groups of children, despite the cluster randomization. After applying propensity score weights, children in the PAX group had significantly greater decreases in conduct problems (β:-1.08, standard error(se):0.2505, p<.0001), hyperactivity (β:-1.13, se:0.3617, p=.0018 ), and peer problems (β:-1.10, se:0.3043, p=.0003) and a greater increase in prosocial scores (β:2.68, se:0.4139, p<.0001) than control group children. The percentage of children in the PAX group who met academic expectations was higher than those in the control group, however, only grade 3 numeracy (odds ratio (OR):4.30, confidence interval (CI):1.34 – 13.77) and grade 8 reading and writing (OR:2.78, CI:1.01 – 7.67) met statistical significance. We found no evidence that PAX was associated with less emotional problems, diagnosed mental disorders or better student engagement. Conclusion These findings suggest that PAX was effective in improving First Nations children’s mental health and academic outcomes in First Nations communities. Examining what works in Indigenous communities is crucial because approaches that are effective in some populations may not necessarily be culturally appropriate for remote Indigenous communities.

Keywords

• mental health
• children
• Indigenous
• educational outcomes
• intervention research
• cluster randomized controlled trial