Effectiveness of an individual school-based intervention for children with aggressive behaviour: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
For elementary school-children with aggressive behaviour problems, there is a strong need for effective preventive interventions to interrupt the developmental trajectory towards more serious behaviour problems.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this RCT-study was to evaluate a school-based individual tailor-made intervention (Stay Cool Kids), designed to reduce aggressive behaviour in selected children by enhancing cognitive behavioural skills.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 48 schools, with 264 fourth-grade children selected by their teachers because of elevated levels of externalizing behaviour (TRF T-score>60), randomly assigned to the intervention or no-intervention control condition.


RESULTS
The intervention was found to be effective in reducing reactive and proactive aggressive behaviour as reported by children, mothers, fathers or teachers, with effect sizes ranging from .11 to .32. Clinically relevant changes in teacher-rated externalizing behaviour were found: the intervention reduced behaviour problems to (sub) clinical or normative levels for significantly more children than the control condition. Some aspects of problems in social cognitive functioning were reduced and children showed more positive self-perception. Ethnic background and gender moderated intervention effects on child and teacher reported aggression and child response generation.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness on outcome behaviour and child cognitions of an individual tailor-made intervention across informants under real-world conditions.
Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Sabine
S
Stoltz
Monique
M
van Londen
Maja
M
Deković
Bram O
BO
de Castro
Peter
P
Prinzie
John E
JE
Lochman
D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012572:School Health Services