The Effectiveness of Social Problem Solving Skill Training on Academic Performance and Internalizing and Externalizing Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Primary School Students

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of social problem solving skill training on academic performance and emotional and behavioral problems. The research method was quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test and follow-up. The statistical population consisted of 600 fifth grade male students who were studying in Pishva city (Tehran province) in the 97-96 academic year and were screened through child behavior checklist (CBCL). Students with a T-score greater than 63 were randomly assigned to two groups of 15 experimental and control. The experimental group underwent social problem solving skill training interventions for 12 sessions of 50 minutes. After 3 months a follow-up test was performed. To collect data, child behavior checklist, teacher’s report form (TRF) and academic performance test was used. Significance of group differences according to pre-test, post-test and follow-up scores was evaluated by mixed analysis of variance test with repeated measures at a significance level of 0.05. The results of data analysis showed that there is a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the mean of internalizing and externalizing emotional and behavioral problems and academic performance. The effect of time was also significant and pairwise comparison showed a significant difference between the scores of individuals in the three variables of internalizing and externalizing problems and academic performance in the pre-test and post-test stages, but the difference in scores in the post-test and follow-up stages was not significant. so, teaching social problem solving skill effected on academic performance and emotional and behavioral problems.