In spite of the trend to implement evidence-based practices in community settings, we know little about the efficacy of interventions outside research contexts. There is a lack of empirical studies on the effects of social skills training in real-world contexts that include sufficient numbers of participants and follow up studies. The short and long-term effects of a social skills training of 34 college students were investigated in a real world setting. Social skills (IHS) and anxiety (STAI) scores were checked before and after the intervention and after a follow up interval. Both anxiety and social skills improved from the pre-test to post-test, and both remained stable from the post-test to follow-up after 3 months to 5 years.
social skills training; anxiety; college students; evidence-based practice
