Effects of a Culturally Adapted Social-Emotional Learning Intervention Program on Students’ Mental Health

Abstract

Student self-reports of resiliency and social-emotional internalizing problems were examined to determine intervention effects of a culturally adapted social and emotional learning (SEL) program. Data were analyzed from 20 culturally and linguistically diverse high school students who participated in a school-based 12-lesson SEL intervention and completed all data points (full pre, post, and follow-up). Participants were in grades 9 and 10 and included 16 male students. Students’ self reports of resiliency and internalizing symptoms were assessed before intervention, immediately after intervention, and at 2 months following the intervention. Statistically significant gains in self-reported resiliency immediately after intervention were obtained; furthermore, these gains in resiliency were maintained 2 months after the intervention. Reductions in students’ self-reported internalizing problems were not observed. Student reports of social validity suggest high levels of intervention acceptability and relevance for use with culturally and linguistic diverse high school students.