Spanish version of Super Skills for Life in individual modality: Improvement of children's emotional well-being from a transdiagnostic approach

J Clin Psychol. 2021 Oct;77(10):2187-2202. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23148. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Abstract

Objective(s): This study analyzed the short-term effects of the Super Skills for Life (SSL) program in its individual format from the parents' perspective.

Methods: Parents of 70 Spanish children aged 8-11 years (M = 9.31; SD = 1.16) completed assessment instruments about their children's emotional state at the baseline and postintervention.

Results: Analyses revealed significantly lower scores in depression (The Mood and Feelings Questionnaire), anxiety, and specific disorders (The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale) (i.e., panic attack/agoraphobia, separation anxiety, social phobia, and generalized anxiety). Significant improvements were also found in anxiety life interference at home (The Child Anxiety Life Interference Scale), total difficulties, internalized and externalized problems, emotional symptoms, peer problems, and hyperactivity/inattention (The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) at posttest. SSL was effective in reducing psychopathological symptoms similarly in both girls and boys.

Conclusions: These promising results provide preliminary support for the usefulness of the SSL program in individual format for the indicated prevention of children's emotional problems. This study provides a valuable resource for research and clinical practice.

Keywords: Super Skills for Life; anxiety; children; depression; individual modality; parents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Emotions
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders* / prevention & control
  • Parents / psychology
  • Program Evaluation