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Published on: March 1, 2019
The effects of city-wide implementation of "second step" on elementary school students' prosocial and aggressive
Michelle Beaulieu Cooke1, Julian Ford, Joan Levine
1Injury Prevention Center, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT 06106, USA. michellebcooke@msn.com
Abstract:
This study examined the impact of implementing Second Step, a violence prevention program, using a comprehensive, city-wide approach. The evaluation included 741 3rd-5th graders in six schools. Student surveys, behavioral observations, and discipline referrals were used to assess aggressive-antisocial and prosocial behaviors. We found significant improvements in positive approach-coping, caring-cooperative behavior, suppression of aggression, and consideration of others, but no changes in aggressive-antisocial behaviors. Behavioral observations and disciplinary referrals showed no significant changes. The program was implemented with high fidelity and engaged a wide range of participants from the community.
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