The Effects of PATHS Program on Reduction of Children's Internalized Disorders

The purpose of the present study was to investigate and explain the effects of the PATHS program through mediating role of emotion regulation on reduction of internalizing disorders (anxiety and depression). Internalizing disorders are the most prevalent emotional and behavioral disorders among children. The study population includes students of primary schools in Tehran. Research method was quasi experimental and the sample size included 600 male students ages 6-12 years old  who were selected based on inclusion criteria such as same social and economic status, same educational settings, and lack of severe physical and mental disorders. They were selected based on convenience sampling and assigned to control and experimental groups randomly. In order to assess internalizing disorders, each group was evaluated by Achenbach TRF form before and after the interventions. Experimental group received PATHS program for one academic year while the control group received custom educations. Results of ANCOVA indicated that, the experimental group showed significant reductions in subscales of internalizing disorders (P<0.05). Findings of the study showed that the Persian version of PATHS program has significant effects on children's internalizing disorders and it can be used in schools as an evidence based program in social and emotional interventions and to reduce children's internalizing disorders.