J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry.  2016 Sep;27(3):216-225. 10.5765/jkacap.2016.27.3.216.

Effects of School-Based Social Skills Training Program on Alexithymic Tendency: Preliminary Study

• Kim MS
• Shin JU
• Lee YR
• Lee YW
• Jung KA
• Jung DN
• Park MR
• Song GS
• Seo SS

• KMID: 2358035
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5765/jkacap.2016.27.3.216

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purposes of this study are to evaluate the effect of a school-based social skills training program on the emotional regulation of children and adolescents and to assess the plan for effective school-based mental health services.
METHODS
The Child and Adolescent Mental health promotion team of Bugok National Hospital conducted school-based social skills training (N=90, 7 sessions) for elementary and middle school students. Evaluations were conducted before and after the application of the program using a prosocial behavior questionnaire, a cohesiveness questionnaire, the Korean version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, a self-esteem scale, and the Novaco anger scale, in order to identify any changes.
RESULTS
The social skills training program increased the prosocial behavior and cohesiveness of the children and adolescents and decreased their alexithymic tendency and degree of anger, but did not significantly change their self-esteem.
CONCLUSION
The social skills training program positively influences the emotional and behavioral levels of children and adolescents. The emotional regulation program based on a social skills training program is expected to have positive results in school-based mental health services. Future investigations are needed to validate the long term effects of this program.

Keyword

Social Skills Training; Alexithymia; School-Based Mental Health Promotion

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Affective Symptoms
Anger
Child
Education*
Humans
Mental Health
Mental Health Services
Social Skills*