Journal Article

Sustained Effects of the PATHS Curriculum on the Social and Psychological Adjustment of Children in Special Education

Kusché, Carol A., Greenberg, Mark T., Kam, Chi-Ming

2004

Overview

In this study, the authors examined the long-term effectiveness of the PATHS (Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies) curriculum on the adjustment of school-age children with special needs. The PATHS curriculum focuses on promoting children's emotional development, self-regulation, and social problem—solving skills. Eighteen special education classrooms were randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions in this controlled trial. Teachers received both training and ongoing consultation and provided PATHS to students in Grades 1 through 3. Data were collected before the intervention and for 3 successive years. Growth curve analysis indicated that the intervention reduced the rate of growth of teacher-reported internalizing and externalizing behaviors 2 years after the intervention and produced a sustained reduction in depressive symptoms reported by the children. Discussion focuses on the need for social—emotional learning (SEL) programs in special education and factors that can promote SEL among children with special needs.

• Publisher: Sage Publications,PRO-ED, Inc,SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subject: Adjustment / Agricultural Occupations / Agricultural Skills / Alternative approaches / Child development / Children / Children & youth / Classroom Desegregation / Classrooms / Cognitive Processes / Curricula / Depression (Psychology) / Educational programs / Effectiveness / Elementary school students / Emotional Development / Emotional Intelligence / Emotional regulation / Emotions / Evidence / General Education / Generalization / Grade 1 / Inclusive Schools / Instructional Effectiveness / Internalization / Interpersonal Competence / Intervention / Learning / Learning Problems / Long term / Mental depression / Outcome Measures / Peer Relationship / Physical Health / Problem solving / Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies / Randomized controlled trials / School Psychologists / Self concept / Self control / Self regulation / Social Behavior / Social development / Social Emotional Learning / Social problem solving / Social Problems / Social programs / Social psychology / Social skills / Special Education / Special Education Teachers / Special needs children / Special Needs Students / Teachers / Teaching Methods / Thinking skills / USA