Generalization and Behavior Covariation of Aggression in Children Receiving Stress Inoculation Therapy

Abstract

Many behaviorally disordered children exhibit aggressive behaviors which often interfere with acquiring prosocial and academic skills. A stress inoculation program was implemented with four behaviorally disordered children to determine whether aggressive behaviors would decrease and generalize to a day school setting. Specific coping behaviors were also recorded to determine whether they increased as a function of this intervention. A multiple baseline design across children was employed with concurrent data collected in the generalization setting. Three of the four children exhibited decreases in aggression and increases in coping behaviors which generalized to the day school. Results are discussed in terms of enhancing generalization and treatment gains with behaviorally disordered youth.