Together at school intervention programme. A pilot study on the feasibility and perceived benefits of a programme focusing on improving socio-emotional skills among schoolchildren in Finland

: Appelqvist-Schmidlechner K, Liski A, Pankakoski M, Solantaus T, Ojala T, Kampman M, Santalahti P

Publisher: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

: 2016

: International Journal of Mental Health Promotion

: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION

: INT J MENT HEALTH PR

: 18

: 3

: 127

: 143

: 17

: 1462-3730

: 2049-8543

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14623730.2016.1193763

The aim of the Together at School Intervention Programme developed for the Finnish school system was to improve socio-emotional skills and prevent psychosocial problems among children (7-12years). The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety and perceived benefits of the programme in order to justify its large-scale implementation for a randomized controlled study. Altogether, 23 classrooms from Grades 1-6 (N=549, n=451 children) in four schools participated in the study. Informants were teachers (n=23), head masters (n=4), children (n=451) and their parents. Data were collected by questionnaires at three time points. The different tools assessed were considered to be beneficial for the children by 92-100% of the teachers, and pleasant to participate in by 73-89% of the children. During the follow-up, emotional symptoms reduced significantly among boys. Bullying behaviour was significantly reduced according to both teachers and children. The findings of this pilot study were encouraging.