Japi: Cognitive, Emotional and Social Stimulation for Preschool Children

Summary

Mental health disorders are one of the leading causes of illness globally, and their relevance is expected to increase. Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC), already facing psychological and behavioral issues due to chronic adversity, were further impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. A study showed that symptoms of depression and anxiety in youth doubled during the first year of the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period.

A study in China found that the prevalence of the total difficulties was (8.2%), with conduct problems (7.0%), peer problems (6.6%), and hyperactivity-inattention (6.3%) among the most prevalent. In this study emotional problems reached 4.7%. Finally, recent evidence has revealed that students' psychosocial and behavioral problems have increased in the early stage of schools reopened. Several international agencies have calls on governments, and public and private sector partners, to commit, communicate and act to promote mental health for all children, protect those in need of help, and care for the most vulnerable.

The importance of psychosocial skills acquired in early childhood, such as emotional regulation and social problem-solving, for preventing mental disorders was highlighted. Studies indicate that the development of executive functions and non-cognitive skills in early childhood has a positive impact on long-term health and economic productivity.

However, the treatment gap for mental disorders in LMIC is significant, with only one in ten affected receiving treatment. Preventive interventions are needed, particularly in early childhood, to improve cognitive and socio-emotional skills.

Objective: The research proposal aims to develop a gaming platform aiming to improve cognitive and non-cognitive skills in early childhood at schools with high socio-economic vulnerability, supported by Early Years Educators and Parents using a dashboard integrated in a whole system housed in local server, and to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of this gaming platform and dashboards, with the ultimate goal of reducing behavioral problems, and improving functional and performance outcomes later in life.

Outcomes: Acceptability; Feasibility; Cognitive and non-cognitive skills; Working Memory; Inhibitory control; Emotion recognition; Social competence; Behavioral problems and psychological assessment.

Conditions

• Behavioral Problem of Child

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

JAPI: Cognitive, Emotional and Social Stimulation for Preschool Children

Those children in the intervention group will play with the gaming platform "Japi" using a tablet device in a designated time given from schools' authorities. Early Year Educators will be present to help with the discipline and motivation of the students and Research Assistants will be there as well to provide technical support for the use of the equipment. The intervention has 24 sessions, and the dosage will be two sessions of 15 minutes each per week for 12 weeks. Sessions number 1 to number 8 are focused on emotional regulation and inhibitory control. Sessions number 9 to 16 work on working memory and problem-solving. Sessions number 17 to 24 promote empathy and planification skills. Each session will have eight activities with increasing levels of difficulty.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Talca

  collaborator OTHER

• Universidad de los Andes, Chile

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jorge Gaete, MD, PhD · Universidad de Los Andes

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

3 Years

Max Age

5 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-06-01

Primary Completion

2024-12-31

Completion

2024-12-31

Countries

• Chile

Study Locations