title: Practitioner review: Effective ingredients of prevention programs for youth at risk of persistent juvenile delinquency--recommendations for clinical practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a lack of knowledge about specific effective ingredients of prevention programs for youth at risk for persistent delinquent behavior. The present study combines findings of previous studies by examining the effectiveness of programs in preventing persistent juvenile delinquency and by studying which particular program, sample, and study characteristics contribute to the effects. Information on effective ingredients offers specific indications of how programs may be improved in clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search in PsychINFO, ERIC, PubMed, Sociological Abstracts, Criminal Justice Abstracts, and Google Scholar was performed. Only (quasi)experimental studies and studies that focused on adolescents at risk for (persistent) delinquent behavior were included. Multilevel meta-analysis was conducted on 39 studies (N = 9,084). Participants' ages ranged from 6 to 20 years (M = 14 years, SD = 2.45).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall effect size was significant and small in magnitude (d = 0.24, p < .001). Behavioral-oriented programs, focusing on parenting skills training, behavioral modeling, or behavioral contracting yielded the largest effects. Multimodal programs and programs carried out in the family context proved to be more beneficial than individual and group-based programs. Less intensive programs yielded larger effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevention programs have positive effects on preventing persistent juvenile delinquency. In order to improve program effectiveness, interventions should be behavioral-oriented, delivered in a family or multimodal format, and the intensity of the program should be matched to the level of risk of the juvenile.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sanne L A
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Machteld
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoeve
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Assink
authors.forename: Geert Jan J M
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Stams
authors.forename: Jessica J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Asscher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation
keywords: Effectiveness; juvenile delinquency; meta-analysis; prevention