Internalizing behavior disorders symptoms reduction by a social skills training program among Chinese students: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Introduction: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a social skills training program for Chinese students' internalizing behavior disorders symptoms reduction. Additionally, the study aimed to clarify whether the use of social skills training program would lead to better outcome than the use of daily usual program. Methods: Our RCT study randomly assigned 29 students who were suspected of internalizing behavior disorders to an intervention group in which students received a cognitive- behavioral approach-based social skills training program (n = 16) or to a control group with daily usual program during the period (n = 13). Results: The analyses suggest that students receiving the social skills training program reported a significantly decrease of anxiety, depression and withdrawal symptoms during the end of the intervention and follow-up interval than did students in the control group. Conclusion: cognitive- behavioral approach-based social skills interventions may help increase the sustainability of outcome after treatment for internalizing behavior disorders symptoms.