Effective components of childhood self-esteem interventions

INTERVENTION: Schools are randomized into a condition (i.e., cognitive restructuring condition, psychophysical condition or no‐treatment control condition) and children from grades four to six that report experiencing lower self‐esteem than the class average will be invited to participate in an intervention. Schools are randomized into one of the three conditions using a random number generator. Randomization took place before inviting schools to participate in the study. The interventions consist of four one‐hour sessions, which are provided by certified professionals. Participants complete four measurement occasions: approximately five weeks before the start of the intervention, one week before the start of the intervention, one week after the intervention has ended and three months after the intervention has ended. Three intervention modules will be assessed: 1. A module with cognitive restructuring exercises. 2. A module with psychophysical exercises. 3. No treatment The modules were developed for the purpose of this study and were inspired by Dutch self‐esteem interventions implemented by our clinical partners. The cognitive restructuring module will consist of cognitive restructuring exercises only. The psychophysical module will consist of psychophysical exercises only from the Rock and Water program. CONDITION: Non‐clinical low self‐esteem ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders PRIMARY OUTCOME: ; All measurements were used at all included measurement occasions ( approximately 5 weeks before the start of the intervention, 1 week before the start of the intervention, 1 week after the intervention has ended and 3 months after the intervention has ended); 1. Self‐worth measured using the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale; 2. Self‐perceived competence measured using Self‐Perception Profile for Children; 3. Self‐efficacy measured using General Self‐Efficacy Scale; SECONDARY OUTCOME: ; All measurements were used at all included measurement occasions ( approximately 5 weeks before the start of the intervention, 1 week before the start of the intervention, 1 week after the intervention has ended and 3 months after the intervention has ended); 1. Automatic thoughts measured using the Children's Automatic Thoughts Scale‐Negative/Positive; 2. Social skills measured using the Social Skills Improvement System‐Rating Scales; 3. Assertiveness measured using the Social Skills Improvement System‐Rating Scales; INCLUSION CRITERIA: 8‐ to 12‐year‐old children with low self‐esteem compared to class levels, measured using the Self‐Perception Scale for Children and the Social Skills Improvement System‐Rating Scales‐Assertiveness subscale