The Early Risers preventive intervention: testing for six-year outcomes and mediational processes.
We examined effects of the Early Risers "Skills for Success" early-age-targeted prevention program on serious conduct problems following 5 years of continuous intervention and one year of follow-up. We also examined if intervention effects on proximally-targeted variables found after 3 years mediated intervention effects on conduct problems found after 6 years. Participants included 151 at-risk children (106 males and 45 females) followed from first through sixth-grade, from 23 semi-rural schools in Minnesota. After 6 years, program children showed fewer oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms than control children. Program children did not significantly differ from controls on number of conduct disorder (CD) symptoms, DSM-IV diagnoses of ODD and CD, or drug use involvement. Results of the mediation analysis indicated that fewer ODD symptoms among program youth after 6 years were partially mediated by social skills and effective discipline. The study provides support for the early-starter model of conduct problems development that provides the framework for the Early Risers intervention. The study's implications for prevention and limitations are discussed.
Bernat
Debra H
DH
Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. dbernat@umn.edu
August
Gerald J
GJ
Hektner
Joel M
JM
Bloomquist
Michael L
ML
D000374:Aggression; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D002165:Camping; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D004493:Education; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008611:Mentors; D008910:Minnesota; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010379:Peer Group; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology