Practice makes perfect: A behavioral challenge intervention to develop social, emotional, and behavioral skills

The present research tested whether a behavioral challenge intervention could facilitate the volitional development of social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) skills, and whether changes in perceived skills were linked with positive life outcomes. A total of 470 young adults participated in a 16-week intervention, in which they (a) identified the SEB skills that they would most like to change, (b) set weekly behavioral challenge goals designed to practice those skills, and (c) evaluated their success in pursuing each challenge goal. Results suggest that the intervention promoted development of four major skill domains: self-management, social engagement, emotional resilience, and innovation skills. Moreover, gains in perceived skills during the intervention were linked with positive changes in outcomes including social relationships, academic and civic engagement, health, and well-being. These findings provide initial support for a low-cost, highly scalable intervention for promoting skill development.