Effectiveness of behavioral interventions in enhancing social competence among children with emotional and behavioral disorders
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58524/sidase.v1i1.5Keywords:
Behavioral interventions, Emotional and behavioral disorders, Social competence, Treatment fidelity, School-based interventionAbstract
Behavioral interventions are widely implemented to improve social competence among children and adolescents with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD). This systematic review synthesizes empirical evidence published between 2019 and 2025 examining the effectiveness of behavioral intervention approaches in enhancing social outcomes, including peer interaction skills, emotional regulation in social contexts, pragmatic communication, and prosocial behaviors. Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and ERIC) were searched using predefined inclusion criteria targeting randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and high-quality single-case experimental designs involving school-aged children and adolescents with EBD. Findings indicate that behavioral interventions demonstrate generally positive effects on targeted social domains, particularly when implemented with adequate intensity, fidelity, and structured adult support (e.g., teacher- or parent-mediated components). Multicomponent treatment packages tend to produce broader and more sustainable gains compared to single-component interventions, although effect sizes vary across settings and outcome measures. School-based implementation models with systematic training and supervision show stronger generalization effects. Despite promising findings, the evidence base remains heterogeneous due to variations in intervention design, duration, measurement tools, and implementation quality. The review discusses potential mechanisms of change, moderating factors (intensity, setting, caregiver involvement, treatment fidelity), methodological limitations in the current literature, and directions for future research emphasizing rigorous experimental designs and long-term follow-up.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ratna Tri Utami, Teddy Yonata, Glenaldo Achmad Zhafran Evito (Author)
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