Initial behavior outcomes for the peacebuilders universal school-based violence prevention program.
PeaceBuilders is a universal, elementary-school-based violence prevention program that attempts to alter the climate of a school by teaching students and staff simple rules and activities aimed at improving child social competence and reducing aggressive behavior. Eight matched schools (N > 4,000 students in Grades K-5) were randomly assigned to either immediate postbaseline intervention (PBI) or to a delayed intervention 1 year later (PBD). Hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze results from assessments in the fall and spring of 2 consecutive school years. In Year 1, significant gains in teacher-rated social competence for students in Grades K-2, in childself-reported peace-building behavior in Grades K-5, and reductions in aggressive behavior in Grades 3-5 were found for PBI but not PBD schools. Differential effects in Year 1 were also observed for aggression and prosocial behavior. Most effects were maintained in Year 2 for PBI schools, including increases in child prosocial behavior in Grades K-2. Implications for early universal school-based prevention and challenges related toevaluating large-scale prevention trials are discussed.
Flannery
Daniel J
DJ
Institute for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Ohio 44242, USA. dflanne1@kent.edu
Vazsonyi
Alexander T
AT
Liau
Albert K
AK
Guo
Shenyang
S
Powell
Kenneth E
KE
Atha
Henry
H
Vesterdal
Wendy
W
Embry
Dennis
D
D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control*