Roots of Empathy (ROE): a schools-based programme for improving social and emotional wellbeing outcomes among 8-9 year olds in Northern Ireland

A cluster randomised controlled trial evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis of the Roots of Empathy (ROE) schools-based programme for improving social and emotional wellbeing outcomes among 8-9 year olds in Northern Ireland

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN07540423

Enrollment

1260

Registered

2011-12-21

Start date

2011-09-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2018-04-30

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Social and emotional well being Mental and Behavioural Disorders Childhood emotional disorder, unspecified

Interventions

Roots of Empathy (ROE) is a 27 lesson programme that runs over a school year and is based around a monthly classroom visit by an infant and parent, typically recruited from the local community, whom t

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. All primary schools located in the four participating Health and Social Care Trust areas (Belfast, South Eastern, Southern and Western) 2. All children who are entering Year 5 (aged 8-9) at baseline in the participating schools

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Special Schools 2. Schools with Year 5 (aged 8-9) classes that have less that 10 children 3. Schools already implementing the ROE programme

Design outcomes

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Understanding of infant crying, measured using the Infant Facial Expression of Emotions Scale 2. Ability to recognise emotions, measured using the Emotional Recognition Questionnaire 3. Empathy, measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index 4. Ability to regulate emotions, measured using the Child Anger Management Scale 5. Quality of life, measured using CHU 9D 6. Educational attainment, measured using the InCAS standardised maths and English scores that all schools in Northern Ireland now collect	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Understanding of infant crying, measured using the Infant Facial Expression of Emotions Scale 2. Ability to recognise emotions, measured using the Emotional Recognition Questionnaire 3. Empathy, measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index 4. Ability to regulate emotions, measured using the Child Anger Management Scale 5. Quality of life, measured using CHU 9D 6. Educational attainment, measured using the InCAS standardised maths and English scores that all schools in Northern Ireland now collect

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Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. Prosocial behaviour and aggressive behaviour measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). There are three versions of the SDQ: parent, teacher and child and all three versions will be used to triangulate the data. The teacher and parent versions will be administered to teachers and parents at every data collection sweep. The child version is only suitable for administration with children aged 11 and above and so this version will be used in the final two data sweeps (June 2014 and June 2015) 2. Child Behaviour Scale 3. Olweus bully/victim questionnaire 4. Class detention rates	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Prosocial behaviour and aggressive behaviour measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). There are three versions of the SDQ: parent, teacher and child and all three versions will be used to triangulate the data. The teacher and parent versions will be administered to teachers and parents at every data collection sweep. The child version is only suitable for administration with children aged 11 and above and so this version will be used in the final two data sweeps (June 2014 and June 2015) 2. Child Behaviour Scale 3. Olweus bully/victim questionnaire 4. Class detention rates

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Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 24, 2026