UMass Chan Medical School Faculty Publications

Title

A pilot study of a primary prevention curriculum to address preschool behavior problems

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Family Medicine and Community Health; Department of Psychiatry; Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine

Publication Date

2013-10-01

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Community Health | Health Psychology | School Psychology

Abstract

Behavior problems among preschool children are common. They are important targets for intervention because early externalizing problems and self-regulation issues tend to persist without appropriate attention, and can affect later mental health and school achievement outcomes. However, few preschool curricula addressing social and emotional development exist, and evidence for effects are mixed. In this study, the Second Step Pre/Kindergarten Social and Emotional Learning curriculum was adapted and tested in a small cluster randomized pilot study of community preschool classrooms to determine if it could improve outcomes in: (1) individual children's teacher-rated behavior problems and prosocial skills; (2) classroom climate (classroom interactions and two measures of disruptive behavior); and (3) teacher interaction skills. Year 1 outcomes were modest and were accounted for by baseline differences. In Year 2, classroom climate, measured by independent observers, differed significantly in intervention classrooms, largely because of declines in control classrooms, and there was some evidence for better teacher interaction skills in intervention classrooms. The pattern of effects suggests important impacts on classroom quality worth investigating in a larger study. Both fidelity and implementation rates, as well as positive teacher responses to the curriculum, indicate potential for widespread adoption.

Keywords

Externalizing behavior problems, Social and emotional skills, Preschool children, Primary prevention

DOI of Published Version

10.1007/s10935-013-0316-1

Source

J Prim Prev. 2013 Oct;34(5):309-27. doi: 10.1007/s10935-013-0316-1. Link to article on publisher's site

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

Journal/Book/Conference Title

The journal of primary prevention

PubMed ID

23897498

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