Immediate and short-term effects of the 5th grade version of the keepin' it REAL substance use prevention intervention.
This study assessed the immediate and short-term outcomes of adapting a culturally-grounded middle school program, keepin' it REAL, for elementary school students. After curriculum adaptation, 10 schools were randomly assigned to the intervention in 5th grade with follow-up boosters in 6th grade; 13 schools were randomly assigned to the control condition, implementing the school's pre-existing substance use prevention programming. Students (n=1566) completed a questionnaire prior to curriculum implementation and follow-up questionnaires toward the end of 5th and 6th grade. The 5th grade kiR curriculum generally appeared no more effective than the control schools' programming in changing students' resistance or decision-making skills; substance use intentions, expectancies, or normative beliefs; or lifetime and recent substance use. Such findings have implications for the age appropriateness of school-based programs.
Hecht
Michael L
ML
The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Department of Communications Arts and Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA. mlh10@psu.edu
Elek
Elvira
E
Wagstaff
David A
DA
Kam
Jennifer A
JA
Marsiglia
Flavio
F
Dustman
Patricia
P
Reeves
Leslie
L
Harthun
Mary
M
D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum; D003657:Decision Making; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires