Abstract

The present study was conducted to examine the effects of social skills training program on the social skills, anxiety, depression and self-esteem of shy children. For this purpose, the social skills training program developed by LeCory and modified by the present investigator was used. Participants of this study were 13 elementary school students attending 'I' elementary school located in Daegu. These children were selected among 128 children who obtained above 43 points on the RCBS scale. Their grade ranged from 5th to 6th. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions: social skills training group condition and control group condition. The program was administered by the present investigator twice a week for four weeks. The length of each session was 60 minutes. For effective administration of the program, leader's manual and children's workbook were developed. To examine the effects of the program, participants were asked to composed the questionnaire before, after, and 2 months after the program. The questionnaire was composed of 4 scale measuring social skills, anxiety, depression and self-esteem. The effects of the program were analyzed by paired t-test and ANCOVA. Results showed that the social skills training program had significant effects on social skills, anxiety, depression and self-esteem of shy children, and that the effects were maintained upto 2 month after the program.