The effects of a culture-based social skills program on the prosocial behaviour of elementary school boys and girls

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a universal culture-based social skills program on prosocial skill development in Aboriginal girls and boys. Children's social adjustment has been a focus of investigation in recent years. This study explored social adjustment in childhood in the Gwich'in population, a First Nation from Canada's Northwest Territories. This study utilized a classical experimental design and included an intervention and comparison group in a pre-test/post-test design. 145 Gwich'in boys and girls, ages seven through nine, were followed over three years. 78 children received the Social Skills Program and 67 children were in the comparison group. Pre and post-test data analysis revealed significant differences for the girls and boys at the intervention site in 2004. A change in scores over time revealed significant improvements in prosocial skills for the boys at the intervention site and a trend toward improvement for girls. No corresponding improvement was evident for the boys and girls at the comparison site. Implications of this study are discussed with respect to prosocial skill development and the effects on social maladjustment in Aboriginal youth.