Talking about emotions with children at risk of social exclusion: A preliminary study

Abstract

The aim of this work was to pilot the efficacy of an intervention programme to enhance emotional com­petences in children aged 9 and 10 living in poverty and risk of social exclusion. The programme focuses on specific components of emotion knowledge and emotion regulation. A one group pre-experimental design with pre and posttest measures was used (N = 14). Children attended weekly sessions during four months. Results showed a significant improve­ment in emotion managing, adaptability and emo­tional instability. Children also showed a more effi­cient use of emotion regulation strategies. No differ­ences were found among Spanish children and chil­dren from other countries. In the discussion section we point out the convenience of this kind of pro­grammes to prevent mental health problems in this population.