Thriving in adversity : do life skills programs work for developing world children? A pragmatic randomized controlled trial
Thriving in adversity : do life skills programs work for developing world children? A pragmatic randomized controlled trial
The severe adversity experienced by millions of children in the developing world leads to failure to thrive associated with cognitive deficits, emotional management problems, and social impairment. In this pragmatic randomized controlled trial, 909 children (aged 8-15 years) in India with disadvantaged backgrounds took part in a semistructured program involving sports or creative arts activities. The Life Skills Assessment Scale was used to assess the children's life skills before and after taking part in the program. Children who took part in the program showed significant increases in life skills following participation, compared to a control group. This study demonstrates the impact of simple, low-budget programs on cognitive, emotional, and social life skills that are typically delayed by severe adversity. The findings have clear implications for children in other adverse environments, such as conflict zones and settlements for displaced children resulting from war, natural disasters, and emergency events.
Children's development, Developing world, Disadvantaged children, Failure to thrive, Life skills program, Socioeconomic status, Stunted growth
1-13
Pearson, David
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Kennedy, Fiona
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Talreja, Vishal
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Bhat, Suchetha
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Newman-Taylor, Katherine
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1 September 2021
Pearson, David
1970ca75-5c78-4f31-ae0d-46469998b2a8
Kennedy, Fiona
75e140dd-7419-4613-9de5-1972a4f16d18
Talreja, Vishal
86b6fb38-f006-48e3-84e7-0a9c48b90ca8
Bhat, Suchetha
860ec86c-983e-45db-a3ae-d79eb608137c
Newman-Taylor, Katherine
e090b9da-6ede-45d5-8a56-2e86c2dafef7
Pearson, David, Kennedy, Fiona, Talreja, Vishal, Bhat, Suchetha and Newman-Taylor, Katherine
(2021)
Thriving in adversity : do life skills programs work for developing world children? A pragmatic randomized controlled trial.
Social Behavior and Personality, 49 (9), , [e10493].
(doi:10.2224/sbp.10493).
Abstract
The severe adversity experienced by millions of children in the developing world leads to failure to thrive associated with cognitive deficits, emotional management problems, and social impairment. In this pragmatic randomized controlled trial, 909 children (aged 8-15 years) in India with disadvantaged backgrounds took part in a semistructured program involving sports or creative arts activities. The Life Skills Assessment Scale was used to assess the children's life skills before and after taking part in the program. Children who took part in the program showed significant increases in life skills following participation, compared to a control group. This study demonstrates the impact of simple, low-budget programs on cognitive, emotional, and social life skills that are typically delayed by severe adversity. The findings have clear implications for children in other adverse environments, such as conflict zones and settlements for displaced children resulting from war, natural disasters, and emergency events.
Text
10493-55897-1-ED revised 110521 - clean copy
- Accepted Manuscript
Text
Thriving in adversity - children - SBP
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 7 May 2021
Published date: 1 September 2021
Keywords:
Children's development, Developing world, Disadvantaged children, Failure to thrive, Life skills program, Socioeconomic status, Stunted growth
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 453275
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/453275
ISSN: 0301-2212
PURE UUID: 2544e636-db3b-4ba3-adc4-bb27f973d082
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Date deposited: 11 Jan 2022 17:59
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:59
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Contributors
Author:
David Pearson
Author:
Fiona Kennedy
Author:
Vishal Talreja
Author:
Suchetha Bhat
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