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The Journal of School Nursing
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Practice Improvement Projects

Small Group Experience for Socially Withdrawn Girls

Gail M. Houck, RN, PhD, PMHNP

Gail M. Houck, RN, PhD, PMHNP, is associate professor at the School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, OR

Lisa Stember, RN, BS

Lisa Stember, RN, BS, is a school nurse with the Department of School Health Services, Multnomah Education Service District, Portland, OR

Social competence is the effectiveness of social interaction behavior. Given its link to mental health outcomes, it is an important consideration in child and adolescent development. Social withdrawal is associated with depression. Socially withdrawn children make few social initiations and tend to be isolated in their play, further limiting their social involvement. To develop effective social behavior, experiences must be provided to learn relationship skills. This practice improvement project provided a small group experience for five socially withdrawn school-age girls. Weekly group meetings provided a social situation in which conversations could occur around a shared snack and craft project. The school nurse facilitated self-assertion and the expression of prosocial behavior in a socially safe (nonrejecting) environment and promoted social problem solving. On completion of the program, the participants not only showed more effective social reasoning and social skills, but developed friendships with each other that lasted beyond the life of the group.

Key Words: social behavior • social competence • social skills • social withdrawal

The Journal of School Nursing, Vol. 18, No. 4, 206-211 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/10598405020180041001
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