A social emotional learning intervention to reduce psychosocial difficulties among rural children in central China

Abstract

Programmes based on social emotional learning (SEL) have been effective in reducing psychosocial difficulties in a number of countries. In Mainland China, there has been no empirical research on the prevention of children's psychosocial difficulties using the SEL approach. This study aimed to assess whether an adapted version of the SEL programme can reduce psychosocial difficulties of primary school children in rural China. The intervention consisted of 16 weekly 90‐min class sessions, conducted among 206 children aged 8–12 years (with 290 controls) in a poor rural area of Central China. Self‐report questionnaires were administered at baseline, post‐intervention and 5‐month follow‐up. The results suggested that the programme (1) can reduce children's total difficulties (measured using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire) at post‐intervention (d = −0.18) and 5‐month follow‐up (d = −0.19), (2) was more effective among children experiencing verbal abuse (d = −0.21) or physical abuse (d = −0.24) from caregivers and (3) was popular among more than 90% of the participants. The programme is cheap, easy to implement and can be delivered in school hours. Therefore, it has clear potential for replicability and sustainability.

Parental Influence on Child Social and Emotional Functioning

“…Mental health intervention is a term that refers to any action or activity that aims to improve the mental health and well-being of individuals or groups who are experiencing or at risk of mental health problems (World Health Organization, 2001). It is noteworthy that 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1277139 Frontiers in Psychology 03 frontiersin.org mental health interventions can serve as potent mitigating forces to enhance life satisfaction and self-confidence among children in economically disadvantaged conditions (Emmers et al, 2021;Li and Hesketh, 2023). Research shows that mental health interventions, when tailored to children's unique experiences and contexts, can effectively improve their life satisfaction and self-confidence (Weare and Nind, 2011).…”

Effect of a mental health education intervention on children’s life satisfaction and self-confidence in rural China

“…Mental health intervention is a term that refers to any action or activity that aims to improve the mental health and well-being of individuals or groups who are experiencing or at risk of mental health problems (World Health Organization, 2001). It is noteworthy that (Emmers et al, 2021;Li and Hesketh, 2023). Research shows that mental health interventions, when tailored to children's unique experiences and contexts, can effectively improve their life satisfaction and self-confidence (Weare and Nind, 2011).…”