Elos Program’s Efficacy Evaluation in School Management of Child Behavior: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

The Elos Program resulted from a Brazilian cultural adaptation of the Good Behavior Game, a preventive strategy for classroom management to reduce aggressive and disruptive behaviors. The goal is to discuss the Elos Program’s efficacy during its implementation in 16 elementary Brazilian public schools in two cities in 2016. The design was a nonrandomized controlled trial with 80 classes in each group, experimental and control, involving 1,731 students. The study used the Generalized Estimating Equation model to verify the program’s effect. Elos seemed to be effective in reducing aggressiveness and disruptive behavior in boys. These results are aligned with others GBG international studies and suggest that, after a randomized trial, the program would be ready to be disseminated in Brazil.