Effectiveness of the Incredible Years Series on Social Competence: A Meta-Analytic Review
Children that enter kindergarten with a deficit in social skills are at-risk of developing behavioral problems that are associated with school failure and dropout. Prevention programs, such as the Incredible Years training series (IYTS), have been designed to provide parents, teachers, and children with support in developing the skills necessary to increase academic success in children. Although, originally developed to prevent conduct problems, a reasonable number of articles have investigated the effect of the IYTS on social competence and have shown contradictory results.
Therefore, this meta-analytic review examines the effectiveness of the IYTS on preschoolers aged three to six on social competence, and the explained variability in intervention outcomes. Fifteen studies were included in this metaanalysis, in which an intervention group received a component of the IYTS compared to a comparison group immediately after intervention. The evidence in this meta-analysis suggests that the IYTS is effective in increasing social competence.
Carlos Anguiano is pursuing a Ph.D. in educational psychology. He is a teaching assistant for assessment courses in the elementary and secondary education programs. His research interests focus on parental strategies that influence academic achievement and aspirations of pursuing a post-secondary education in underrepresented populations.
Prior to coming to Washington State University, Carlos earned a B.A. in psychology from California State University, Los Angeles.