Promoting positive adolescent development for at-risk students with a student assistance program

Area of Science:

• Adolescent psychology
• School-based prevention programs
• Youth development

Background:

• At-risk youth require targeted interventions to foster positive development.
• Student Assistance Programs (SAPs) offer a framework for supporting students facing challenges.
• Psycho-educational small-group interventions can address skill deficits and decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the CASPAR Youth Services Student Assistance Program's psycho-educational component.
• To determine if the program improves key skills, self-control, and decision-making in at-risk adolescents.
• To assess the impact of a social influence process fostering trusting relationships.

Main Methods:

• A randomized-controlled trial design was employed.
• Two cohorts of at-risk sixth graders were assigned to intervention or control groups.
• Participants were assessed at the end of seventh grade, 1.5 years post-intervention.

Main Results:

• A significant intervention effect was observed across all three composite outcome variables.
• The program demonstrated effectiveness in promoting positive youth development.
• The social influence process facilitated improvements in youth skills and decision-making.

Conclusions:

• The CASPAR program is a promising strategy for preventing negative outcomes in adolescents.
• School-based interventions focusing on intrinsic motivation and decision-making skills are effective.
• Building trusting relationships is foundational for helping youth gain control and make informed choices.