Social-Emotional Skills Program for Social Emotional Intelligence

Overseen By Deena Scheidt

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Oregon Social Learning Center

Disqualifiers: Previous teacher training, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 8 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if the Social-emotional Skills for Thriving and Relating at School (SSTRS) program can benefit children entering kindergarten and their families. The researchers seek to discover whether children in the program develop better social-emotional skills and mental health, and if their parents become more positively involved in their learning. The trial will compare two groups: one group of children will receive the SSTRS lessons, while the other will follow the regular kindergarten curriculum. Children entering kindergarten at participating schools are well-suited for this trial. As an unphased trial, it offers families the chance to contribute to educational research that could enhance early childhood development.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that the SSTRS Program is safe for children and parents?

Research shows that programs like the Social-emotional Skills for Thriving and Relating at School (SSTRS) are generally safe and well-received. Studies have found that participating in these programs can reduce emotional stress and encourage a positive outlook. They also help improve students' academic performance and social skills.

Reports of negative effects from joining these programs do not exist. Instead, they typically create a supportive environment that makes students feel safer and more involved. This suggests that the SSTRS Program is likely a safe choice for children starting kindergarten and their families. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Social-emotional Skills for Thriving and Relating at School (SSTRS) program because it offers a fresh approach to boosting social-emotional intelligence in young students. Unlike traditional methods that might focus on academic skills alone, SSTRS emphasizes emotional and social development, which can be crucial for overall success in school and life. This program aims to integrate social-emotional learning directly into the curriculum, providing kids with tools to better understand and manage their emotions, build empathy, and improve their relationships. By focusing on these skills early on, the program hopes to foster a more supportive and inclusive school environment.

What evidence suggests that the SSTRS Program is effective for improving social-emotional skills and mental health in children?

Research has shown that programs like the Social-emotional Skills for Thriving and Relating at School (SSTRS), which participants in this trial may receive, benefit children. Studies have found that these programs enhance students' social, emotional, behavioral, and academic performance. For instance, students in these programs have experienced an average increase of 11 percentage points in academic achievement. These programs teach children how to build positive relationships and support their mental health. Additionally, they improve parenting skills by encouraging parents to be more involved and positively engaged in their children's learning. ^{2 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Katherine Pears, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Oregon Social Learning Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for children entering kindergarten and their families. It's designed to see if the SSTRS Program can improve kids' social-emotional skills and mental health, as well as enhance parenting skills. Families must be willing to participate in daily lessons, watch videos, attend group meetings, and provide feedback on behaviors.

Inclusion Criteria

Child entering kindergarten in a school that is participating in the study

Exclusion Criteria

Being in a classroom in which the teacher or EA was previously trained in another closely-related treatment protocol

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Kindergarteners receive daily SSTRS lessons in their classes for 8 weeks, and parents participate in video sessions and group meetings

8 weeks

Daily lessons for children, regular meetings for parents

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for social-emotional skills and mental health outcomes

9 months

Assessments at 2 months and 9 months post-baseline

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Social-emotional Skills for Thriving and Relating at School Program

Trial Overview The study tests the SSTRS Program against regular kindergarten curriculum without it. The focus is on whether SSTRS leads to better mental health in children and improved parenting practices. Kindergarteners will receive daily lessons for 8 weeks while parents engage with educational materials.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: SSTRS group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

These participants will participate in the SSTRS intervention.

Group II: Services as Usual Active Control 1 Intervention

These participants will receive kindergarten programming as usual.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Oregon Social Learning Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

36

Recruited

8,900+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Citations

1. casel.org casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/

Fundamentals of SEL SEL can help all young people and adults thrive personally and academically, develop and maintain positive relationships, become lifelong learners.

2. learningpolicyinstitute.org learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/evidence-social-emotional-learning-schools-brief

Evidence for Social and Emotional Learning in Schools Evidence from hundreds of studies indicates a consistent, reliable effect of SEL programs on students' social, emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6544145/

The Core Components of Evidence-Based Social Emotional ... The purpose of this study was to systematically identify the core components in evidence-based Elementary School SEL programs.

4. casel.org casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/what-does-the-research-say/

What Does the Research Say? SEL builds social and emotional skills that increase student engagement and lead to improved academic performance. SEL interventions that addressed the five ...

5. ies.ed.gov ies.ed.gov/rel-northwest/2025/01/social-and-emotional-learning-and-behavioral-skills-development

Social and Emotional Learning and Behavioral Skills ... A large-scale study showed that when a student participated in an SEL program, there was, on average, an academic achievement gain of 11 percentage points ( ...

6. medicine.yale.edu medicine.yale.edu/news-article/new-research-published-in-child-development-confirms-social-and-emotional-learning-significantly-improves-student-academic-performance-well-being-and-perceptions-of-school-safety/

Research Finds Social and Emotional Learning Produces ... This study confirmed that students who participated in SEL programs do better in school, academically and socially.

7. learningpolicyinstitute.org learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/safe-schools-thriving-students-report

Safe Schools, Thriving Students: What We Know About ... Surveys also suggest that high schools' promotion of social and emotional skills is positively associated with students feelings of safety.

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11950502/

Relations between a social emotional learning (SEL) program ... The HEROES program is a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) initiative designed to foster resilience, self-esteem, and flourishing in youth.