Back to Search Start Over

A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Digital Socio-Emotional Competence Training Zirkus Empathico for Preschoolers

Authors :
Sandra Naumann
Mareike Bayer
Simone Kirst
Elke van der Meer
Isabel Dziobek
Source :
npj Science of Learning. 2023 8.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), the digital socio-emotional competence training Zirkus Empathico was tested in 74 Central European children (5.1 (0.9) years; 34 females) within a longitudinal design (three time points: T1 = pre-training; T2 = immediately following 6-week training, T3 = 3-month follow-up). The pre-registered primary outcome was empathy, secondary outcomes included emotion recognition, prosocial behavior, and behavioral problem reduction; furthermore, children's neural sensitivity to facial expressions quantified with event-related potentials. Compared to controls (N = 38), Zirkus Empathico participants (N = 36) showed increases in empathy (d = 0.28 [-0.17, 0.76]), emotion recognition (d = 0.57 [0.01, 1.06]), prosocial behavior (d = 0.51 [0.05, 0.99]) and reduced behavioral problems (d = 0.54 [0.08, 1.03]). They also showed larger P3 amplitudes to happy vs. angry and neutral facial expressions post-training. Thus, Zirkus Empathico may be a promising digital training for social competence in preschoolers.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2056-7936
Volume :
8
Database :
ERIC
Journal :
npj Science of Learning
Notes :
https://osf.io/vzgtb
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
EJ1432250
Document Type :
Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-023-00169-8