Effectiveness of an intervention program for increasing emotional intelligence and decreasing emotional and behavioural problems of fourth grade pupils in the Sultanate of Oman

The study aimed at verifying the effectiveness of and intervention program for increasing the emotional intelligence and reducing the emotional behavioural difficulties of fourth grade pupils at the Governorate of Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. The participants included 52 pupils divided into two groups: an experimental group of 26 pupils and a control group of 26 pupils. The researcher verified suitability based on psychological variables namely: Emotional Intelligence (EQ) using the Bar-On measure, and cognitive intelligence test using the Raven's consecutive colorful Matrices; and the emotional and behavioural problems using a scale developed by the researcher in a previous study. The Tagharid Intervention Programme (TIP) was developed based on the theory of Bar-On EQ, including activities consisting of 18 training sessions. The duration of each session was ninety (90) minutes, two meetings per week. After verifying the validity of the intervention programme by specialists, the programme was applied to pupils of the experimental group, and after the completion of the probationary period post tests were applied (EQ scale, and the OMBEP). The results of the intervention programme showed a statistically significant increase in the experimental group pupils’ emotional intelligence and a statistically significant reduction in the their emotional behavioural difficulties.