Violence on a school campus is a multifaceted phenomenon impacting upon the school and the community. According to the CDC, aggression or association with those engaged in high risk asocial behaviors observed in early childhood can lead to violence, social and cognitive deficits. These students are at risk for low academic attainment, self-esteem, poor hygiene, unexcused absences, tardiness, truancy, and acting out in the classroom and/or playground. The Conflict Resolution Training Program a problem-solving violence prevention curriculum based on Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, self-efficacy construct and Bloom’s Taxonomy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the Conflict Resolution Training Program among rural multicultural elementary school students with a follow-up three years thereafter. The initial subjects consisted of one hundred fourth and fifth grade students, with 24.5% Native American, 1% Asian, 4.1% Hispanic and 68.4% White. This group changed at the third year by 17% Native American, 0%Asian, 6%Hispanic and 76%White. A nonequivalent control group quasi-experimental design was utilized to determine the effectiveness of the program at the third year interval. Pearson Chi-square with Yates Correction factor was applied to determine statistically significant differences between the measurement intervals. Preliminary findings indicated a statistically significant increase in academic attainment, hygiene, self-esteem, and positive classroom/playground behavior internalized by the student and applicable in various setting prone to conflict and violence. These findings were maintained in the now seventh graders but significantly abated in the now eighth graders. Given developmental stages in childhood, earlier introduction would appear efficacious.
Learning Objectives: 1. Identify the risk factors of violence among youth, ages 10 through 14, in a multicultural, school setting. 2. Apply developmental stages in childhood to violence prevention and conflict resolution training programs. 3. Evaluate the outcome measures of effective violence prevention and conflict resolution training programs in school settings.
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Violence Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Handout (.ppt format, 74.5 kb)