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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2012:2012:316029.
doi: 10.1100/2012/316029. Epub 2012 Jan 29.

Longitudinal impact of the project PATHS on adolescent risk behavior: what happened after five years?

Daniel T L Shek  1 , Lu Yu
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Longitudinal impact of the project PATHS on adolescent risk behavior: what happened after five years?

Daniel T L Shek et al. ScientificWorldJournal. 2012.

Abstract

The present study investigated the longitudinal impact of the Project PATHS, a large-scale curriculum-based positive youth development program in Hong Kong, on the development of adolescents' risk behavior over a period of five years. Using a longitudinal randomized controlled design, eight waves of data were collected from 19 experimental schools in which students participated in the Project PATHS (N = 2,850 at Wave 8) and 24 control schools without joining the Project PATHS (N = 3,640 at Wave 8). At each wave, students responded to measures assessing their current risk behaviors, including delinquency, use of different types of drug, and their intentions of participating in risk behaviors in the future. Results demonstrated that adolescents receiving the program exhibited significantly slower increases in delinquent behaviors and substance use as compared to the control participants. During two years after the completion of the program, differences in youth risk behaviors in the two groups still existed. These results suggest that the Project PATHS has long-term effect in preventing adolescent problem behavior through promoting positive youth development.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (all participants) and control group using delinquency scale score as the outcome indicator.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (all participants) and control group using the item score of having sexual behavior with others as the outcome indicator.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (all participants) and control group using the item score of violence as the outcome indicator.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (all participants) and control group using the item score of stay outside home over night as the outcome indicator.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (all participants) and control group using the item score of trespasses as the outcome indicator.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (all participants) and control group using substance use scale score as the outcome indicator.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (all participants) and control group using the composite score of illegal drug use as the outcome indicator.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (all participants) and control group using the composite score of legal drug use as the outcome indicator.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (all participants) and control group using the item score of ketamine use as the outcome indicator.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (all participants) and control group using the item score of cannabis use as the outcome indicator.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (all participants) and control group using the item score of solvent use as the outcome indicator.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (all participants) and control group using the item score of ecstasy use as the outcome indicator.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (all participants) and control group using the item score of heroin use as the outcome indicator.
Figure 14
Figure 14
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (all participants) and control group using the scale score of problem behavior intention as the outcome indicator.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (participants who perceived the program as effective) and control group using the scale score of problem behavior intention as the outcome indicator.
Figure 16
Figure 16
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (participants who perceived the program as effective) and control group using the scale score of problem behavior intention as the outcome indicator.
Figure 17
Figure 17
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (participants who perceived the program as effective) and control group using the composite score of tobacco use and alcohol use as the outcome indicator.
Figure 18
Figure 18
Growth trajectories of the experimental group (participants who perceived the program as effective) and control group using the item score of damaging other's property as the outcome indicator.
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References

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