MindMasters 2: A 3-Month Pilot Study Evaluating Grade 3 Children’s Social and Emotional Skills

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the preliminary effects of a curriculum resource on elementary school children’s social and emotional skills. In total, 98 Grade 3 children were randomly allocated to either a control or experimental group and evaluated before and after a 3-month implementation period. Experimental group showed improved prosocial behaviors (p < .01), concern for others (p = .02), and emotional skills (p < .01) over time, as well as improved relaxation levels (p < .01) after partaking in relaxation activities. Compared with the control group, experimental group’s emotional skills were significantly higher at posttest (p < .01). No significant differences were observed for children’s self-perceptions (p > .05). Results from this study indicate that the curriculum resource may facilitate the development of children’s social and emotional skills. A future definitive randomized-controlled trial should strive for a longer implementation period in response to small effect sizes, taking into account target population, sample size, and persistence of effects over the life span and in different environmental contexts.