Evaluation of a High School Peer Group Intervention for At-Risk Youth |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Hyunsan?ChoEmail author Denise?Dion?Hallfors Victoria?Sánchez |
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Institution: | (1) Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Chapel Hill, North Carolina;(2) School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina;(3) 1516 E. Franklin Street, Suite 200, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514 |
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Abstract: | The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of Reconnecting Youth, a prevention program for at-risk high school youth. Data are from a large, independently evaluated effectiveness trial in two diverse urban school districts. A total of 1,218 students participated; 50% were male; average age was 15. We tested whether positive efficacy trial effects could be replicated, and whether any negative behavioral effects occur when clustering high-risk youth. Although mixed program effects were observed at immediate post-intervention, only negative effects were found at 6-month follow-up. These effects included less optimal scores on measures of GPA, Anger, School Connectedness, Conventional Peer Bonding, and Peer High-Risk Behaviors. Overall, we found little support for the use of this social-influence—model intervention aimed at increasing school connectedness for high-risk youth. Further, this study provides evidence that clustering high-risk youth in preventive interventions has the potential for iatrogenic effects. |
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Keywords: | effectiveness trial indicated prevention adolescent problem behavior iatrogenic effect peer contagion substance abuse |
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