Preliminary Effectiveness Study of Coping Power Program for Aggressive Children in Pakistan

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Psychiatric Interventions
• Cross-Cultural Psychology

Background:

• Aggression is prevalent in psychiatric disorders, necessitating culturally relevant interventions.
• Evidence-based behavioral programs are scarce in Pakistan.
• The Coping Power Program is a recognized intervention for behavioral issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a culturally adapted Coping Power Program in Pakistan.
• To determine if the program reduces aggressive behavior in children.
• To evaluate improvements in competent behavior and social skills.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was employed.
• 112 fourth-grade boys participated, assigned to intervention or waitlist control groups.
• Pre- and post-testing assessed behavioral outcomes.

Main Results:

• The intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in aggression post-assessment compared to the control group.
• Boys in the intervention group showed improved social skills and cognitive processes.
• Enhanced anger control and problem-solving strategies were observed in the intervention group.

Conclusions:

• The culturally adapted Coping Power Program shows preliminary effectiveness for Pakistani children.
• The intervention successfully reduced behavioral problems and promoted positive behaviors.
• Findings suggest the program's adaptability to diverse cultural contexts with high violence exposure potential.