Paper Title
FOSTERING RESILIENCE: AN ONLINE SCHOOL BASED POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract
This study assessed the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an online school-based Positive Psychology program designed to enhance the mental health of schoolchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic school closures. The study involved a sample of 1,670 children and adolescents from six elementary and secondary schools in Israel. Participants were randomly assigned to either the Positive Psychology intervention group (n=833) or the waiting-list control group (n=837). Classroom teachers received specialized training to deliver the program during the extended school closure. A three-year longitudinal repeated measures randomized controlled design was employed to investigate changes in psychological symptoms and well-being within the intervention and control groups. Assessments occurred at three time points: pre-test (September 2019, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak), post-test (May 2021), and 12-month follow-up (May 2022). The results indicated that following the intervention, the intervention group reported significantly lower levels of psychological symptoms (including depression, anxiety, and somatization) and higher levels of well-being compared to the control group at the follow-up assessment. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the lives of children and adolescents. Positive psychology preventive interventions have shown promise in improving the mental health of schoolchildren during pandemics and crisis periods.