Effects of a School-Based Social-Emotional and Character Development Program on Health Behaviors: A Matched-Pair, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

The Journal of Primary Prevention
Niloofar BavarianBrian R Flay

Abstract

There is considerable research that suggests that school-based social-emotional programs can foster improved mental health and reduce problem behaviors for participating youth; in contrast, much less is known about the impact of these programs on physical health, even though some of these programs also include at least limited direct attention to promoting physical health behaviors. We examined the effects of one such program, Positive Action (PA), on physical health behaviors and body mass index (BMI), and tested for mediation of program effects through a measure of social-emotional and character development (SECD). Participating schools in the matched-pair, cluster-randomized trial were 14 low-performing K-8 Chicago Public Schools. We followed a cohort of students in each school from grades 3 to 8 (eight waves of data collection; 1170 total students). Student self-reports of health behaviors served as the basis for measures of healthy eating and exercise, unhealthy eating, personal hygiene, consistent bedtime, and SECD. We collected height and weight measurements at endpoint to calculate age- and gender-adjusted BMI z-scores. Longitudinal multilevel modeling analyses revealed evidence of favorable program effects on personal ...Continue Reading

References

Aug 29, 2001·Evaluation & the Health Professions·M W Lipsey, D B Wilson
Apr 4, 2002·Psychological Methods·David P MacKinnonVirgil Sheets
Dec 11, 2003·Psychological Methods·Julio Sánchez-MecaSalvador Chacón-Moscoso
Jan 25, 2008·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·C Hendricks BrownUNKNOWN Prevention Science and Methodology Group
Dec 19, 2009·American Journal of Public Health·Jennifer M OrsiSteven Whitman
Jan 1, 2008·Structural Equation Modeling : a Multidisciplinary Journal·Jason Williams, David P Mackinnon
Feb 23, 2011·Evaluation and Program Planning·Amy L Tobler, Kelli A Komro
Jun 15, 2011·The Journal of School Health·Rebecca A London, Sebastian Castrechini
Sep 20, 2011·The Journal of School Health·Charles E Basch
Jan 18, 2012·Prevention Science : the Official Journal of the Society for Prevention Research·Sam VuchinichLeonard Bickman
May 21, 2013·American Journal of Preventive Medicine·Kendra M LewisBrian R Flay
Jul 31, 2013·The Journal of Adolescent Health : Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine·Kendra M LewisBrian R Flay

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 9, 2017·European Journal of Public Health·Vincent BuschMai J Chinapaw
Jul 19, 2018·Revista latino-americana de enfermagem·Eliabe Rodrigues de MedeirosErika Simone Galvão Pinto
Oct 20, 2019·The Journal of Primary Prevention·JoLynn V CarneyJames Geckler

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.