title: Evaluation of a school-based educational program to prevent adolescents' problem behaviors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many researchers believe that adolescents' problem behaviors are indicators of a deficiency in social skills. This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a prevention program on reducing problem behaviors in male adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a preposttest design with randomized control group, 49 students received social skills training (SST). Follow-up assessment of outcomes took place 5 months post baseline. The SST program was administered over the course of 10 weeks (10 sessions of 1 h). The main tools were multiple problem behaviors index (MPBI) and Social Skills Rating System - student form (SSRS-S). The control group (57 students) did not receive any intervention. Intervention effects were evaluated with t-test, univariate ANCOVA, and repeated measures ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant difference between groups founded on SSRS at posttest (t = 2.5, P = 0.014) by univariate ANCOVA. In addition, the findings indicated that variation trend of mean scores of SSRS in the intervention group was significant (F = 225.3, P < 0.0001). The intervention group reported Lower levels of MPBI at posttest and follow-up compared to the control group. Significant difference between the two groups did not achieved on MPBI scores in the posttest after adjusting for the pretest scores; however, this difference was significant at the follow up (F = 5.3, P = 0.020).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that SST was effective in improving social competence and preventing problem behaviors among male adolescent. Future researches must be examined the role of peer and family.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Eslami
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fazlollah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghofranipour
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Education, School of Psychology and Education, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Bagher Ghobari
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Bonab
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education, School of Health Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Davood Shojaei
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Zadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farkhondeh Amin
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Shokravi
authors.affiliation: Department of Demography, School of Social Sciences, Tehran University, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud Ghazi
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Tabatabaie
keywords: Male adolescent; multiple problem behaviors index; social skills rating system – student form; social skills training