Executive Functions and Interpersonal Skills in Preadolescents with High Family Risk: Effectiveness of a Multicomponent Intervention Program

Abstract

Growing up in a high family risk (HFR) environment is accompanied by difficulties in executive functions (EFs) and interpersonal skills (IS) that may persist into adulthood. Because preadolescence is a critical period, this study will assess a multicomponent mediational intervention program, to determine the possibility of improving these skills. There were 61 preadolescent participants, between the ages of 8 and 12; 34 were associated with HFR and 27 were associated with low family risk (LFR). All the participants were tested with EF and IS measures. Results showed that, prior to treatment, the HFR preadolescents had poorer performance on EF and IS than did the LFR preadolescents. In the posttreatment measures, to assess the utility of the multicomponent program, the HFR preadolescents group was able to match the scores of those in the LFR group. In addition, intervention effects in the HFR group were maintained in the follow-up assessment.