Evaluation of a mental skills training program implemented by an elementary classroom teacher.

The purpose of this study was to implement Orlick's (1993) mental skills/life skills training program and assess the extent to which children (1) learned to relax themselves at will, (2) successfully implemented stress control strategies, and (3) improved the frequency of their highlights (any simple pleasure, joy, or other positive experience that improves the quality of one's day). Two intact classes of grade 2 children took part in the study. One class served as the experimental group, while the other class served as the control group. The usual classroom teacher delivered the program 4 to 5 times per week, for 9 consecutive weeks. Each intervention session was 10 to 15 min in length. Significant positive effects were found in the experimental group with respect to the children's abilities to lower their heart rates at will and successfully implement relaxation and stress control strategies in their daily lives. Children in the experimental group also experienced a significant increase in the frequency of their highlights over the course of the intervention period. The results suggested that children in grade 2 can (1) learn to relax themselves at will as measured by heart rate, (2) successfully implement stress control strategies, and (3) improve the frequency of their highlight experiences when the usual classroom teacher delivers Orlick's (1993) mental skills training program.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Ottawa (Canada)

Year dc:date

2009

Author dc:creator

• Bonadie, Jenelle N.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Orlick, T.,

• Education, Tests and Measurements.

Identifier

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 34-04, page: 1343.
9780612049079
http://dx.doi.org/10.20381/ruor-16649

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/10088