Can Social Skills Training (SST) Improve Peer Relationships in Children with ADHD? — Cochrane 25 RCT Review (2025)

3-Line Summary

1. What: A Cochrane systematic review of 25 RCTs (2,690 participants) examined Social Skills Training (SST) programs that teach social interaction, conversation skills, and emotional recognition.
2. Who: Children and adolescents aged 5–18 with ADHD participating in group or individual SST programs.
3. Result: Improvements in social competence and ADHD symptoms were reported, though heterogeneity across studies resulted in wide confidence intervals.

Keywords

social skills training SST peer relationships Cochrane systematic review

Practical Tips

• If your child struggles with peer interactions, ask a specialist about small-group SST programs in your area.
• Practice conversation skills at home through role-playing and scenario rehearsal.
• SST programs that include a parent component have shown greater effectiveness.