The effect of pro social skills training on aggression and self-efficacy in peer interaction among students with aggressive behaviors

Abstract

The aggression is a prevalent disorder that has made many problems for children, families and schools. Thus, the purpose of present study was to determine the effect of prosocial skills training based on skillstreaming programon aggression and self-efficacy in peer interaction of male elementary school students with aggressive behaviors in Ahvaz. This study was a field experimental study with pre-post-test and follow-up with control group design. The sample consisted of 41 male students in fifth and sixth grades of elementary school in year of 2015-16 that were assigned in to two experimental and control groups randomly based on the opinion of teachers and psychologist and had aggressive behavioral diagnostic criteria. The instruments included Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (Teacher’s Report Form) and Children’s Self-Efficacy for Peer Interaction Scale.The pre-tests were administered to both groups and their teachers.Then, the intervention was administered to the experimental group. Eventually, the post-tests were administered to both groups and their teachers and after 6 weeks they received the follow-up. Results of multivariate analysis of covariance indicated that prosocial skills training causes decrease in aggression and increase in self-efficacy in peer interaction and these effects still has been after 6 weeks. According to the results, the prosocial skills training was an effective intervention in reduce aggression and increase self-efficacy in peer interaction. Thus, the use of prosocial skills training to reduce aggression and improve self-efficacy in peer interaction of aggressive children can be suggested.

Keywords

• pro social skills training
• skill streaming program
• aggression
• self-efficacy in peer interaction