Evaluation of a school‑based educational program to prevent adolescents’ problem behaviors
نویسندگان
1 Department of Special Education, School of Psychology and Education
2 Department of Health Education, School of Health Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Health Education, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University
4 Department of Health Education, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University,
5 Department of Demography, School of Social Sciences, Tehran University,
6
doi
چکیده
Background: Many researchers believe that adolescents’ problem behaviors are indicators ofa deficiency in social skills. This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a preventionprogram on reducing problem behaviors in male adolescents. Materials and Methods: In apreposttest design with randomized control group, 49 students received social skills training(SST).Follow‑up assessment of outcomes took place 5 months post baseline. The SST program wasadministered over the course of 10 weeks (10 sessions of 1 h). The main tools were multipleproblem behaviors index (MPBI) and Social Skills Rating System – student form (SSRS‑S).The control group (57 students) did not receive any intervention. Intervention effects wereevaluated with t‑test, univariate ANCOVA, and repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Significantdifference between groups founded on SSRS at posttest (t = 2.5, P = 0.014) by univariateANCOVA. In addition, the findings indicated that variation trend of mean scores of SSRSin the intervention group was significant (F = 225.3, P < 0.0001). The intervention groupreported Lower levels of MPBI at posttest and follow‑up compared to the control group.Significant difference between the two groups did not achieved on MPBI scores in the posttest after adjusting for the pretest scores; however, this difference was significant at the followup (F = 5.3, P = 0.020). Conclusion: The results suggest that SST was effective in improvingsocial competence and preventing problem behaviors among male adolescent. Futureresearches must be examined the role of peer and family.
