Characterization of interpersonal problem solving skills in children 6 to 10 years and association with school performance

• Grant number: 11/18361-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2011
• End date: September 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Luciana Carla dos Santos Elias
• Grantee: Ana Cláudia Durão
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In recent years literature has pointed to the importance of social skills (HS) in child development and learning. Although there is no consensus on the single definition of what these skills are, the repertoire of behavior to be developed by children is quite varied and includes classes and subclasses of skills, some of which are considered indispensable for the adaptive functioning of children. Among the different HS, is a particular object of study in this work, named Skill Interpersonal Problem Solving (HSPI), which refers to the ability that a person has to solve interpersonal problems in different contexts. Children show improved performance in HSPI be better adjusted to environmental situations that predispose an unfavorable result, softening its impact. The HSPI is learned, capable of being modified, and detected within four years. Given the above, this study aims to characterize the performance of HSPI and its relations with academic performance and behavior problems in children. Two hundred children of both sexes, six to 10 years, regularly registered with the Municipal Education Cravinhos - SP, who attend elementary school, their parents, and their teachers, will provide a sample project. To achieve the proposed objective will be performed different procedures such as direct assessment with the child, and gathering information across scales applied to teachers and parents/guardians. Evaluations will be conducted by the researcher, in schools that children attend. After collecting data, they will be listed according to the norms of each technique and then performed statistical analysis and interpretation of results.(AU)