Intervention on Externalizing Problems of Undercontrolled Personality Types in Primary School Students.

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Undercontrolled personality types exhibit high impulsivity and low self-control, increasing risk for externalizing problems like aggression and antisocial behavior.
• These personality types are consistently identified across diverse populations and developmental stages.
• Externalizing behaviors in primary school students require targeted interventions to mitigate long-term negative outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a mental health intervention aimed at reducing externalizing problems in undercontrolled primary school students.
• To assess the efficacy and sustainability of the intervention over time.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design was employed with 69 undercontrolled primary school students in North China.
• The experimental group participated in 14 weeks of systematic experiential mental health activities.
• The control group engaged in typical classroom activities, with assessments conducted pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at a 4-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed a significant reduction in externalizing problem behaviors compared to the control group.
• The positive effects of the intervention were maintained at the 4-month follow-up assessment.
• No significant adverse effects were reported.

Conclusions:

• Systematic experiential mental health activities are effective in reducing externalizing problems in undercontrolled primary school students.
• The intervention demonstrates lasting benefits, providing a viable strategy for addressing behavioral issues in this population.
• Findings offer valuable insights for educators and clinicians working with at-risk children.