Jayman, Michelle ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0277-4344, Ohl, Maddie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1956-4220, Hughes, Bronach and Fox, Pauline ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0046-4940 (2014) Improving the socio-emotional health of young people in early secondary education: preliminary findings from a study of the Pyramid intervention project. In: Health & Mental Resilience: An Interdisciplinary Approach, 26-27 Sep 2014, Krakow, Poland. (Unpublished)

PDF Health and Mental Resilience conference.pdf - Draft Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Background: The incidence of emotional disorders in children and young people is an escalating concern. Research suggests poor emotional health in adolescence is related to many negative outcomes including loneliness, lack of school adjustment, poor academic performance and mental health issues. The Pyramid project (school-based intervention programme) aims to improve the socio-emotional well-being of vulnerable adolescents. Previous studies with primary-aged children have demonstrated the positive impact of Pyramid programmes on vulnerable children’s social and emotional health (Ohl et al 2008, Ohl et al 2012).
Aim(s): To examine the impact of Pyramid interventions on the socio-emotional health of pupils in early secondary education and to explore how programmes bring about change.
Methods: The impact of the Pyramid project on twenty-one early-adolescent students was examined through a mixed-methods design including the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997) and focus groups with Pyramid group participants and programme leaders.
Results: Results from the teacher assessment Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire demonstrated improvements in the intervention group’s socio-emotional competencies compared to a comparison group. A thematic analysis of the qualitative data collected from focus groups supported the quantitative findings and identified potential causal mechanisms facilitating change.
Conclusion: Further research is required to develop these preliminary findings and to demonstrate evidence-based practices for enhancing young people’s socio-emotional well-being. These preliminary findings will contribute to future research on a larger cohort and support extending the research to examine the impact on academic performance. Findings have the potential to underpin evidence-based policy and practice in the early adolescent population.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Subjects:	Education Medicine and health > Mental health Psychology
Depositing User:	Michelle Jayman
Date Deposited:	31 May 2016 17:54
Last Modified:	04 Nov 2024 11:02
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/2298

Actions (login required)

View Item