Evaluation of the All Stars character education and problem behavior prevention program: effects on mediator and outcome variables for middle school students.
The effects of All Stars, a character education and problem behavior prevention program, on variables theorized to mediate problem behaviors and on the problem behavior variables of substance use, sexual behavior, and violence among middle school students are reported. In an independent, randomized, single-cohort, longitudinal evaluation of the program, 1,655 students completed pretest, posttest, and 1-year follow-up surveys measuring demographics, mediating variables, and behavioral outcome variables. Results indicate that the All Stars program, when administered by teachers, had an immediate effect on mediating variables that did not persist over time. Inclusion of ethnicity in the design showed that the program, when administered by specialists, had delayed effects on mediating variables for African American and Hispanic students. However, no consistent effects were found for student problem behaviors in either condition. Implications for prevention practice and directions for future research are discussed.
Harrington
N G
NG
Department of Communication, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506-0042, USA. ngrant@pop.uky.edu
Giles
S M
SM
Hoyle
R H
RH
Feeney
G J
GJ
Yungbluth
S C
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011322:Primary Prevention; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires