Abstract
The present study examined the effects of classroom-based social skills training upon elementary school children's loneliness. Sixty-three third grade children participated in this study. They were assigned to the training and the control groups. The training consisted of 8 sessions which focused on three target skills (rule following skills, conflict resolution skills, social initiation skills). The first study aimed to examine the immediate effect of the training. The training group, compared with the control group, significantly greater improved their social skills assessed by a self-reported measure after the training. The teacher ratings on the trained children's social skills and problem behaviors also showed significant improvements. Their loneliness was decreased after the training. The second study aimed to examine the maintenance effect of training. Six months follow up demonstrated that training group maintained the training gains.
