J Korean Soc Biol Ther Psychiatry.  2020 Jun;26(2):144-153.

The Influence of School-Based Social Skills Training Program on the Social Decision-Making of Children and Adolescents : A Preliminary Study

• Kim MS
• Seo SS
• Kim YT

Abstract

Objectives
：The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a school-based social skills training program on the social decision-making of children and adolescents and to assess plan for effective school-based mental health services.
Methods
：It was performed school-based social skills training (n=46, 7 sessions) in elementary and middle school students. Evaluations were conducted before and after the application of the program using a ultimatum game and dictator game, in order to identify changes.
Results
：Before social skills training program (SSTP), the younger students showed higher acceptance rates of unfair offers than the older students in ultimatum game (UG) [at 9:1 offers 0.79±0.08>0.55±0.12 (p=0.001); at 8:2 offers 0.81±0.11>0.59±0.11 (p=0.001)]. the rejection rates of unfair offers in UG significantly increased after SSTP[at 9:1 offers 0.64±0.19→0.43±0.18 (p=0.001) ; at 8:2 offers 0.67±0.16→0.54±0.16 (p=0.046) ; at 7:3 offers 0.83± 0.20→0.65±0.12 (p=0.001)]. the rejection rates of unfair offers in UG significantly increased at happy and at neutral facial expression of proposers after SSTP[happy facial expression condition, at 9:1 offers 0.89±0.12→0.68±0.19 (p=0.001) ; at 8:2 offers 0.82±0.19→0.72±0.14 (p=0.001) ; at 7:3 offers 0.99±0.07→0.92±0.17 (p=0.040] [neutral facial expression condition, at 9:1 offers 0.71±0.20→0.54±0.13 (p=0.001) ; at 8:2 offers 0.61±0.18→0.52±0.06 (p=0.001) ; at 7:3 offers 0.91±0.13→0.83±0.12 (p=0.001)]. the amount of money offered as a proposer in dictator game significantly increased after SSTP [3989.1±1952.3→4742.5±371.1, (p=0.012)].
Conclusion
：The social skills training program positively influences the social decision-making. The school-based social skills training program can be expected to have positive results in school-based mental health services. Future investigation is needed to validate the long term effects of this program.

Keyword

Social skills training; Social decision-making; Ultimatum game; Fairness