Benefits of Childhood Social Intervention

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Childhood social development programs lead to more positive adulthood functioning, according to a recent study.

Researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle, examined the long-term effects of a childhood social development program when participants reached 21 years of age. The program included teacher and parent training, and child social and emotional skill development. Children in a full-intervention group received about four years of intervention throughout elementary school. Those in a control group received no intervention.

Analysis shows students who received full intervention were more likely to graduate from high school, to complete at least two years of college, to stay at a job longer, and to have fewer social phobia and suicidal thoughts than students who did not receive intervention. The full-intervention group was also less likely to be involved in crime, to have sold illegal drugs in the past year, and to have an official lifetime court record.

Researchers say, "The transition to early adulthood is a challenging time for many young people. Young adults are vulnerable to emotional and mental health problems, involvement in crime, and growing problems with drugs and alcohol. Studies have shown the effectiveness of selective interventions in children from families in poverty in encouraging positive adolescent and adult outcomes. These results provide further evidence that early and sustained intervention in the elementary grades can help to put children on a more positive developmental trajectory that is maintained into early adulthood."

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SOURCE: The Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2005;159:25-31