Feasibility & Acceptability of a Culturally Adapted Socio Emotional Learning Intervention for Pakistani Adolescents

Feasibility and Acceptability of Implementing and Scaling up a Culturally Adapted Universal Socio-emotional Intervention for School-going Adolescents in Rawalpindi, Pakistan: A Feasibility Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (cRCT)

The aim of the study is to improve socioemotional learning skills of adolescents in public school settings of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of culturally adapted social and emotional learning intervention through feasibility cluster randomized controlled trial.

In the current study, 4 schools will be randomized to intervention and control arms, stratified by gender.

The study participants will be adolescents studying in government schools.

The current study is a two-arm, single-blinded, feasibility cluster randomized controlled trial that will be conducted in 4 middle and high schools in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. 4 schools, stratified by gender, will be randomized on a 1:1 allocation ratio into intervention (n = 2) and enhanced treatment-as-usual (n=2) arms. Approximately 120 adolescents of both genders, aged 10-14, studying in grade 6 of elementary public schools will be included in the study. A facilitator will deliver the intervention in the classrooms. The intervention components are empirically supported and include emotional regulation, stress management, problem solving, assertiveness, drug and alcohol knowledge, and interpersonal skills. The treatment as usual across both arms will be enhanced by conducting a 40-minute awareness-raising seminar on promoting mental health among adolescents through schools. The objective of the study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of culturally adapted social and emotional learning intervention along with evaluating the preliminary impact of the culturally adapted intervention on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Social and Emotional Abilities (SEA) in school-going adolescents in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Students enrolled in Grade 6
2. Present at school on the day of the baseline assessment, the endpoint outcome assessment, or both

Exclusion Criteria:

The adolescents will be excluded if the they

1. are at high risk of imminent suicide as reported by the students themselves or parents/primary caregivers, or identified by the trained assessment team during assessments.
2. have acute medical conditions who require immediate or ongoing inpatient medical or psychiatric care, as reported by students themselves or parents/primary caregivers or identified by the trained assessment team during assessments.
3. have deafness, blindness and speech difficulties or with severe mental, neurological or substance use disorders (e.g., psychosis, mutism, intellectual disability, autism or drug dependence) identified by the trained assessment team during assessments.