Changes in anxiety levels and social-emotional skills in 2nd and 3rd cycle elementary school students who participated in the HORS-PISTE program: A pilot study

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Reference

Mayville A, Therriault D, Lane J, Gosselin P, Berrigan F, Malboeuf-Hurtubise C, Laurent A, Jasmin E, Montreuil T, Restrepo G, Morin MC, Saint-Pierre-Mousset E. (2024). Changes in anxiety levels and social-emotional skills in 2nd and 3rd cycle elementary school students who participated in the HORS-PISTE program: A pilot study. Revue de psychoéducation, 53(1), 1–25.

Abstract

Anxiety disorders in children have been on the rise for several years and are considered to be the most common mental health disorders in young people. They negatively affect multiple aspects of their lives, such as sleep and attention. This pilot study looked at the changes observed in 2nd and 3rd cycle elementary school students when a new program, the HORS-PISTE preschool-elementary program, was implemented in the first year. Using a pre-experimental research design, the aim of this pilot study was to examine changes in the anxiety levels and social-emotional skills (problem-solving, emotional regulation, interpersonal relationships) of elementary school students in grades 3 to 6 who had participated in the HORS-PISTE program, and to examine whether changes over time were moderated by the initial anxiety levels reported by the students. A total of 950 students, aged 8 to 12, took part in the study. These pupils came from 12 elementary school in Quebec. Data on anxiety and socio-emotional skills were collected at two time points, once before the students’ participation in the HORS-PISTE program (T1), and a second time after their participation in the program (T2). The results show a reduction in the anxiety trait in young people who initially had a higher level of anxiety, as well as a positive evolution in emotional regulation for the whole sample between T1 and T2. This first evaluative study shows that the HORS-PISTE program may represent an interesting avenue for anxiety prevention in elementary schools.

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