A preliminary efficiency study of a multifocused prevention program for children with deficient emotional and social competencies

Identifying at risk preschoolers and providing them with early intervention prevents the escalation of behaviour problems. The aims of the study were twofold: 1) to develop a multifocused preventive program (child-focused curriculum, teacher and parent trainings); and 2) to establish program efficiency for at risk 3- to 4-years-old preschoolers. We used a quasiexperimental design in order to assess the program's outcomes. The results indicated significantly better developed emotional and social competencies, as well as significantly lower levels of externalizing and internalizing problems for intervention group children compared to the control group, and these results were maintained after a 3-months follow-up. The program's effects on children's behaviours were consistently replicated across preschool and home settings from three data sources: parents, teachers and experimental tasks. These data suggest that this program can be regarded as a promising community-based intervention program for high risk children.