Improving social-emotional skills in kindergarteners for better mental health.
Official title: Increasing Kindergarten Social-Emotional Skills for Positive Long-Term Mental Health: A Pilot Test of the Strengthening Social-Emotional Skills for Relating and Thriving at School (SSTRS) Program
Funded at Oregon Social Learning Center, INC. · NIH-11037323 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a program called SSTRS to help kids getting ready for kindergarten build important social and emotional skills, which can help them stay happy and healthy as they grow up, and it also involves parents to support their child's learning and behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Social Learning Center, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Eugene, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $234,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R34MH138714-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11037323 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children entering kindergarten, particularly those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Children who are not entering kindergarten or those who do not exhibit deficits in social-emotional skills may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the social-emotional skills of children transitioning to kindergarten, which are crucial for preventing future mental health issues. The program, known as SSTRS, includes tailored activities for kindergarteners and an integrated curriculum for parents to promote positive discipline and involvement in their child's education. By using a cluster-randomized design, the study will assess the effectiveness of this program on children's social-emotional skills and their mental health outcomes over time. Data will be collected at various stages to evaluate the program's impact.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mental health outcomes for children by equipping them with essential social-emotional skills.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with similar programs aimed at enhancing social-emotional skills in young children, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Social Learning Center, INC.
Eugene, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pears, Katherine C — Oregon Social Learning Center, INC.
- Study coordinator: Pears, Katherine C
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.