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School-based secondary prevention for children with disruptive behavior: initial outcomes
L Braswell1, G J August, M L Bloomquist
1University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|June 1, 1997
Summary
A 2-year study found that a multicomponent competence enhancement intervention (MCEI) did not reduce externalizing behaviors in elementary students compared to a control group. Gains in adaptive skills and reduced internalizing symptoms were self-reported by children in both groups.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Elementary school students often exhibit disruptive behaviors.
- Early identification and intervention are crucial for preventing serious externalizing disorders.
- Longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of prevention programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of a multicomponent competence enhancement intervention (MCEI) for reducing disruptive behavior in elementary students.
- To compare the MCEI group with an information/attention control (IAC) group over a 2-year period.
- To examine intervention effects on externalizing behaviors, adaptive skills, and internalizing symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal secondary prevention study involving 309 first through fourth graders from 22 suburban elementary schools.
- Participants were screened for cross-setting disruptive behavior.
- Intervention effects were assessed over 2 years using multisource assessments (children, teachers, parents, observers).
Main Results:
- Multisource assessments did not support the efficacy of the MCEI over the IAC condition for reducing externalizing behaviors.
- Children in both groups self-reported increased adaptive skills and decreased school problems and internalizing symptoms.
- Teacher and parent ratings of externalizing behavior showed no positive change, though teachers noted improved problem-solving and observers noted decreased behavioral interference, potentially due to maturation.
Conclusions:
- The multicomponent competence enhancement intervention (MCEI) showed no significant advantage over the control condition in reducing externalizing behaviors.
- Self-reported improvements in adaptive skills and reductions in internalizing symptoms were observed in both intervention and control groups.
- Observed decreases in behavioral interference may be attributed to natural maturation processes rather than the specific intervention.