Social skills and social problem-solving training for shy young adolescents

Few behavioral interventions have attempted to remediate the social skills and social problem-solving deficits of shy young adolescents, even though this is a developmental period where the establishment of successful peer relationships appears quite important. In the current study, a group training procedure was used to improve the effectiveness of adolescents' solutions to peer relationship problems and to improve the behavioral skill shown during their conversations with one another. In addition, data suggestive of posttreatment improvement in other areas (self-esteem and number of monitored interactions with others) were obtained. Improved global ratings for ease of conversing with others and social interactions made by the subjects, their parents, and teachers demonstrated social validity of the intervention.