on August 11, 2021
Social skills are an integral part of life and now more than ever, when we have been deprived of much socialization due to the pandemic. Young people, especially, have felt the very real effects of limited socialization and it is important to ensure that caregivers and guardians are making every effort to support and facilitate the development of these skills despite the challenging circumstances.
What are Social Skills
The term ‘social skills’ is often heard in conversation, but what does it actually mean? Broadly speaking, ‘social skills’ are best understood as a set of skills which enable individuals to communicate, relate to, and interact with others (please bold this in the post). They include a myriad of interpersonal skills, both verbal and non-verbal, including conflict resolution skills, intimacy skills and prosocial behaviours, as well as individual attributes such as empathy, self-control, behaviour regulation and confidence.
Why Social Skills
From the day we are born, socialization forms an integral part of our development. Research has shown that children and adolescents with well-developed social skills, particularly pertaining to managing conflict, emotional intimacy and displaying prosocial behaviours, struggle less with peer acceptance, and the formation and maintenance of relationships with friends and family. Strong social skills are also associated with better academic performance, effective problem solving, higher self esteem and overall better psychological well-being. Moreover, these skills and strengths are carried into adulthood and influence individual’s abilities to form healthy adult relationships later in life.
Conversely, children and adolescents who lack strong social skills have been found to experience academic, psychological and social challenges. Academically, these individuals tend to experience more academic failure, difficulty concentrating and inattentiveness. Psychologically, poor social skills in children are associated with poor self-concept, lower self-esteem, emotional regulation difficulties and poorer mental health. This may lead to poor social skills results in a myriad of social challenges for children such as peer rejection, problems in interpersonal relationships, higher levels of aggression, bullying, delinquency, and isolation. The above comparisons make it strikingly clear that the development of social skills in childhood is undoubtedly important and influences fundamental areas of one’s life.
Contributions to Social Skill Development in Young People
The above highlights the importance of developing social skills in young Understanding who and what contributes to the development of these skills is equally important. When considering social influence, especially in early childhood, the family and home environment are some of the primary contributors. Relationships with parents, siblings and extended family members all contribute to young people’s understanding of relationships and social interactions. Learning to navigate conflict, intimacy and other social interactions with family members informs and directly impacts children’s and adolescent’s future relationships. Sibling relationships, in particular, have been found to be strongly associated with the degree to which adolescents participate in delinquent behaviours. Extended family member relationships can offer support and guidance to younger individuals, as well as serve as models for adult relationships outside of the family unit. Adult relationships can also contribute through providing reinforcement, modeling social behaviours and introducing young people to a variety of social contexts and environments. These relationships may prove especially important for individuals who lack healthy relationships in their families and home environments.
Peer relationships are another key contributor to the development of social skills. Peer relationships provide young individuals the opportunity to practice interpersonal skills, express empathy, and autonomy. Healthy peer relationships are said to decrease aggression levels, antisocial behaviours and emotional distress. Social skills programmes with peers have proven to yield positive results when treating young people with behaviour problems. These programmes focus on facilitating various relationships, both within and outside the family.
Impact of the Pandemic
There is no doubt that the COVID-19 global pandemic has taken a serious toll on people’s social well-being, with young people being particularly affected! Harsh restrictions on movement and interaction have left young people more isolated than ever. Research has shown that this has caused increased levels of depression, anxiety, stress, as well as lower self-esteem. Moreover, the frustration and boredom associated with restrictions has caused increased disruptive and delinquent behaviours. The effects of this limited socialization in young childhood is particularly detrimental as the effects are long-term and carried into adulthood.
Getting Creative: How to develop Social Skills amidst the Pandemic
In light of these challenges, how can we encourage and facilitate the development of social skills in young people amidst the pandemic? In today’s day and age technology has become a saving grace in ensuring people remain connected despite being physically distanced. Research has shown that the use of social media during this period has positive impacts on young people’s well-being and mental health. As many young people are forced to remain at home with parents and other family members, strengthening these relationships is another key way of ensuring children are able to develop social skills. Parents and guardians offer support, advice, and a safe space for children to voice their emotions and experiences. Research suggests strengthening these relationships can help to combat many of the adverse effects of the pandemic.
…But, not every young person has access to strong, healthy familial relationships and this is where group therapy can prove especially useful. Therapy Groups have proven to be effective in teaching children and adolescents’ social skills. The group setting offers young people the chance to practice, test out and explore social skills in a safe space, which they can then carry into the outside world and social situations.
To develop and grow your child’s social skills, join one of our Friendship Strengthening and Social Skills Groups today!
References:
Cauberghe, V., Van Wesenbeeck, I., De Jans, S., Hudders, L., & Ponnet, K. How adolescents use social media to cope with feelings of loneliness and anxiety during COVID-19 lockdown. Cyberpsychology, Behaviour and Social Networking, 24(4): 250-257.
Hair, E. C., Jager, J., & Garrett, S. B. 2002. Helping teens develop healthy social skills and relationships: What the research shows about navigating adolescence. Available at: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.childtrends.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2002%2F07%2FChild_Trends-2002_07_01_RB_TeenSocialSkills.pdf&clen=147269&chunk=true
LeCroy, C. W. 2007. Problem solving and social skills training groups for children. In Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in Clinical Social Work Practice. T. Ronen, & A. Freeman, Eds. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Rashid, T. 2010. Development of social skills among children at elementary level. Bulletin of Education and Research, 32(1): 69-78.
Urbina-Garcia, A. Young children’s mental health: Impact social isolation during the COVID-19 lockdown and effective strategies. Available at: file:///C:/Users/kylie/OneDrive/Documents/Connect%20Group/Social%20skills%20blog%20post/Young%20Childrens%20Mental%20Health%20Impact%20of%20Social%20Isolation%20During%20the%20Pandemic.pdf