NCJ Number
253664
Journal
School Psychology International Volume: 1 Issue: 29 Dated: 2008 Pages: 71-88
Date Published
2008
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This article reports on an evaluation of the outcomes of the universal social competence promotion program called Second Step, as implemented in a typical "real world" implementation in Norway.
Abstract
The evaluation addressed the effects of the program on social competence and externalizing and internalizing problem behavior among 1,153 fifth and sixth grade students after 1 year of intervention. Although the program is originally American, Second Step has been translated and adapted for the Norwegian setting and renamed Steg for Steg. Applying Linear Mixed Modeling, the results from the age cohort design with comparison groups show that the program had significant positive effects on social competence for boys and girls in grade 5 and for girls in grade 6. Boys in grade 6 reported lower levels of externalizing problem behavior compared to control students. There were no effects on internalizing problem behavior. The analysis also revealed that the results varied between classrooms. These results add weight to the evidence in support of a wider implementation of the Second Step program. (publisher abstract modified)