Does the Animal Fun program improve social-emotional and behavioural outcomes in children aged 4-6 years?
Hum Mov Sci
; 43: 155-63, 2015 Oct.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26298689
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.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Atenção
/
Comportamento Social
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Intervenção Educacional Precoce
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Inteligência Emocional
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Hipercinese
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Atividade Motora
/
Destreza Motora
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Limite:
Animals
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Child
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Child, preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Male
País/Região como assunto:
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2015
Tipo de documento:
Article