How Well Do Social Skills Training Benefits Last for Children with Behavioral Problems?

What you need to know

• Social skills training combined with parent training shows lasting benefits for children with behavioral problems
• Improvements in aggressive behavior and social skills were maintained or even increased 10 months after treatment
• 90% of children who received the comprehensive treatment showed meaningful improvement compared to before treatment

The Challenge of Lasting Change

As any parent of a child with behavioral challenges knows, achieving lasting positive changes in behavior can feel like an uphill battle. While many treatments show promising results initially, the real test comes in whether these improvements stick around long after the therapy ends. This is especially important for children with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD), as these behavioral problems tend to persist and can lead to serious difficulties later in life if not effectively addressed.

The Treatment Approach

The study examined a comprehensive program called Treatment Program for Children with Aggressive Behavior (THAV), which combines several key elements:

• Individual social skills training for children
• Parent management training
• Teacher consultation when needed
• Peer-focused interventions

This multi-faceted approach aims to help children develop better ways to handle anger, solve social problems, and interact positively with others. The program is individually tailored to each child’s specific needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.

What the Research Found

The researchers followed 76 families for 10 months after completing either the THAV program or a control group that participated in supervised play activities. Key findings included:

• Children who received THAV maintained their improvements in behavior 10 months later
• Some behaviors, like oppositional defiance and ADHD symptoms, showed even further improvement
• 90% of children who completed THAV showed meaningful positive changes compared to before treatment
• The THAV group continued to show better outcomes than the control group in several areas, especially opposition and prosocial behavior

The Power of Comprehensive Treatment

One of the study’s most important findings is that combining different types of interventions - working directly with the child while also involving parents and sometimes teachers - appears to create more lasting change than simpler approaches. This makes intuitive sense: children get to practice new skills in therapy while parents learn better ways to support positive behavior at home.

What This Means for You

If you’re considering treatment options for a child with behavioral challenges, these findings suggest several important considerations:

• Look for programs that combine multiple approaches rather than focusing on just one aspect
• Expect that meaningful change takes time and continued practice
• Be encouraged that improvements can last and even grow stronger with time
• Stay involved in supporting new skills even after formal treatment ends
• Consider programs that can be tailored to your child’s specific needs rather than rigid protocols

Conclusions

• Comprehensive behavioral treatment programs can create lasting positive changes for children with conduct problems
• Improvements tend to maintain or even increase in the months following treatment
• Programs that combine child-focused training with parent involvement appear particularly effective