Effectiveness of Trauma-Informed Care Programs: A Meta-Analysis.
Shaolingyun Guo, Qiqi Chen, Ko Ling Chan
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This meta-analysis evaluated trauma-informed care (TIC) programs across service systems, including 13 randomized controlled trials published before July 2024. The studies assessed outcomes such as trauma-related knowledge, skills, awareness, and mental health. Random-effects effect sizes were Cohen’s d = 0.72 for programs targeting service providers and d = 1.03 for programs targeting service recipients. Subgroup analyses suggested greater effectiveness in clinical settings, for mental health outcomes, with medical care components, and when programs targeted care or service recipients.
Key findings
- Across 13 RCTs, the random-effects effect size was Cohen’s d = 0.72 for programs targeting service providers.
- For programs targeting service recipients, the random-effects effect size was Cohen’s d = 1.03.
- Subgroup analyses indicated greater effectiveness in clinical settings, for mental health outcomes, with medical care components, and when targeting recipients.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that TIC programs can improve trauma-related knowledge, skills, and awareness, with potential benefits for mental health outcomes across diverse service settings. The stronger reported effect for recipient-targeted programs may help inform program design, while the subgroup results point to clinical settings and medical care components as potentially useful areas for implementation.
What to keep in mind
The meta-analysis included 13 RCTs, and the abstract notes that further research is needed to tailor child-focused interventions for younger populations.