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Does the Animal Fun program improve social-emotional and behavioural outcomes in children aged 4-6 years?
- Source :
-
Human Movement Science . Oct2015, Vol. 43, p155-163. 9p. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Animal Fun was designed to enhance motor and social development in young children. Its efficacy in improving motor skills was presented previously using a randomised controlled trial and a multivariate nested cohort design. Based on the Environmental Stress Hypothesis, it was argued that the program would also result in positive mental health outcomes, investigated in the current study. Pre-intervention scores were recorded for 511 children aged 4.83-6.17 years (M=5.42, SD=.30). Intervention and control groups were compared 6 months following intervention, and again in their first school year. Changes in teacher-rated prosocial behaviour and total difficulties were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and data analysed using Generalised Linear Mixed Models. There was a significant improvement in prosocial behaviour of children in the intervention group six months after initial testing, which remained at 18-month follow-up. Total difficulties decreased at 6 months for the intervention group, with no change at 18 months. This effect was present only for the hyperactivity/inattention subscale. The only significant change for the control group was an increase in hyperactivity/inattention scores from pre-intervention to 18-month follow-up. The Animal Fun program appears to be effective in improving social and behavioural outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *MOTOR ability
*SOCIAL development
*MENTAL health
*MULTIVARIATE analysis
*RANDOMIZED controlled trials
*COHORT analysis
*ANIMAL experimentation
*HYPERKINESIA
*ATTENTION
*COMPARATIVE studies
*DEPRIVATION (Psychology)
*RESEARCH methodology
*MEDICAL cooperation
*QUESTIONNAIRES
*RESEARCH
*SEX distribution
*SOCIAL classes
*SOCIAL skills
*EMOTIONAL intelligence
*EARLY intervention (Education)
*EVALUATION research
*PSYCHOLOGY
*THERAPEUTICS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01679457
- Volume :
- 43
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Human Movement Science
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 109396022
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2015.08.004