229888 Preventing substance use, violent behaviors and sexual activity among elementary-school students through enhancing students' positive development: A mediation analysis of a school-based randomized trial

Monday, November 8, 2010 : 5:30 PM - 5:45 PM

Frank Snyder, MPH , Department of Public Health, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Brian Flay, DPhil , Department of Public Health, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Alan Acock, PhD , Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Samuel Vuchinich, PhD , Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Isaac Washburn, MS , Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Background: A positive youth development perspective focuses on the strengths of youth and their positive behaviors, moving away from the negative perspective that has predominated scientific thinking for decades. Recent published research has reported the effects of a comprehensive school-based social-emotional and character development program, Positive Action, on reducing substance use, violent behaviors, and sexual activity among elementary-school students. The purpose of this study was to build upon this research and utilize a positive youth development perspective to examine if positive behavior mediated the intervention effects on reducing substance use, violence, and sexual activity. Methods: We utilized a matched-pair, cluster-randomized, controlled design, with 20 (10 intervention and 10 control) racially/ethnically diverse schools. Fifth-grade students self-reported on positive behaviors and substance use, violence, and voluntary sexual activity; teachers self-reported on students' positive behaviors, substance use, and violence. Results: Structural equation models, with a latent positive-behavior mediator, indicated that students attending intervention schools reported significantly greater positive behavior. Intervention effects on student-reported substance use, violence, and sexual activity were completely mediated by students' positive behavior. Consistent with previous research, students attending intervention schools reported significantly less substance use, violence, and sexual activity. Overall, boys reported more problem behaviors than girls. Teacher reports corroborate these results, with positive behavior partially mediating the effects of the intervention on problem behaviors. Conclusion: Students' positive behavior significantly mediated the intervention effects on students' problem behaviors, providing evidence that supports a positive youth development perspective which posits that a focus on youths' assets can reduce problem behaviors.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the mediators and outcomes of a school-based prevention program. 2. Demonstrate that an increase in positive behaviors can mediate intervention effects and mitigate problem behaviors.

Keywords: Substance Abuse Prevention, Violence Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because this research is being conducted as part of my doctoral dissertation.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
Positive Action, Inc. school-based program Dr. Brian Flay is my PhD advisor and Dr. Flay’s spouse holds a significant financial interest in Positive Action, Inc.

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.