The effectiveness of social skills training (SST) for juvenile delinquents: a meta-analytical review

Trudy Van Der Stouwe,Yvonne L Castenmiller,Marion Van Der Zouwen,Machteld Hoeve,Geert Jan J M Stams,Peter H Van Der Laan,Jessica J Asscher,Jeanne Gubbels

doi:10.1007/s11292-020-09419-w

Trudy Van Der Stouwe, Yvonne L Castenmiller + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-020-09419-w

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Abstract

ObjectivesTo examine the effectiveness of social skills training (SST) for juvenile offenders and for whom and under which conditions SSTs are the most effective.MethodsMultilevel meta-analyses were conducted to examine the effectiveness of juvenile offender SST compared to no/placebo treatment and alternative treatment on offending, externalizing problems, social skills, and internalizing problems.ResultsBeneficial effects were only found for offending and social skills compared to no/placebo treatment. Compared to alternative treatment, small effects on only reoffending were found. Moderator analyses yielded larger effects on offending, with larger post-treatment effects on social skills. Effects on externalizing behavior were only reported in the USA, and effects on social skills were larger when the outcomes were reported through self-report.ConclusionsSST may be a too generic treatment approach to reduce juvenile delinquency, because dynamic risk factors for juvenile offending are only partially targeted in SST.

Highlights

A series of multi-level meta-analyses were conducted to examine the effectiveness of skills training (SST) for juvenile offenders on offending, externalizing problems, social skills, and internalizing problems
In contrast to previous quantitative reviews, we distinguished between effects in no/placebo treatment and alternative treatment comparisons
The effects of SST compared to a no/placebo treatment control group are line with those found in previous meta-analyses: significant treatment effects were found for offending (d = .25, 95% CI = .12–.43) and social skills (d = .54, 95% CI = .37–.72), but no treatment effects were found for externalizing and internalizing problems

Summary

Objectives

To examine the effectiveness of social skills training (SST) for juvenile offenders and for whom and under which conditions SSTs are the most effective. Methods Multilevel meta-analyses were conducted to examine the effectiveness of juvenile offender SST compared to no/placebo treatment and alternative treatment on offending, externalizing problems, social skills, and internalizing problems

Methods

Results

Conclusion