Transtheoretical-based bullying prevention effectiveness trials in middle schools and high schools

Background Bullying threatens the physical and mental well-being of students across a broad range of schools. Tailored interventions based on the Transtheoretical model and delivered over the Internet were designed to reduce participation in each of three roles related to bullying (bully, victim and passive bystander). Methods Effectiveness trials were completed in 12 middle schools and 13 high schools in the USA. A diverse sample of 1237 middle (6th-8th grade, with 45.1% in the 7th grade; ages 11-14) and 1215 high school (9th-11th grade, with 41.6% in the 9th grade; ages 14-17) students were available for analyses. Results Analyses showed significant treatment effects for both intervention groups when compared to control for both the middle and high school programs. Conclusions Given the relative ease of dissemination, these programs could be applied as stand-alone practices or as part of more intensive interventions

An internet-based computer-tailored intervention to promote responsible drinking: Findings from a pilot test with employed adults

This article describes pilot test findings of an Internet-based, Transtheoretical Model-based, computer-tailored intervention for adults who exceed national guidelines for low-risk drinking. In a pilot test, 166 adults recruited from worksites completed one session and evaluated the program. Pre- and post-assessments indicate intention to make behavioral changes. Importantly, 94.3% of participants indicated that they would recommend the program. Ratings were positive with the majority of participants agreeing or strongly agreeing with all 14 evaluation items. Feasibility was demonstrated by recruiting and engaging employed adults. This program is a cost-effective prevention program promoting responsible drinking to adults. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC

Keepin’ It R.E.A.L.!: Program Description and Results of Baseline Assessment

In this article, the authors present the results of the analysis of the baseline data fromKeepin’it R.E.A.L.!, an HIV prevention project developed for mothers and their adolescents. Six hundred twelve mostly male (60.6%) and African American (98.2%) adolescents completed baseline assessments. Eleven percent of the adolescent participants reported initiating sexual intercourse. Adolescent participants expressing higher levels of self-efficacy to resist peer pressure, more favorable outcome expectancies, less communication about sex with their mothers, higherle vels of self-concept related to theirbeha vior, lowerle vels of self-concept related to popularity, and less stress reported fewer types of intimate sexual behaviors. Adolescent participants who reported higher selfefficacy to resist peer pressure to have sex and lower levels of stress were less likely to have initiated sexual intercourse. Selected characteristics of mothers did not contribute to understanding factors associated with intimate sexual behaviors or initiation of sexual intercourse among adolescent participants

Randomized trial of a computer-tailored intervention for patients with depression

Purpose. Examine the efficacy of a computer-tailored intervention (CTI) based on the transtheoretical model (TTM) for reducing depression, an increasingly important component of health promotion programs. Design. Pretest-posttest randomized trial. Setting. Participants were recruited and treated at home after being identified in two primary care clinics in Eastern Massachusetts and Chicago, Illinois. Subjects. A total of 350 adults experiencing at least mild symptoms of depression but not involved in or planning to seek treatment for depression. Intervention. A print manual and three CTI reports tailored to stage of change for using effective methods to prevent or reduce depression, other TTM variables, level of depression, and behavior. Measures. Pre-post changes and reliable and clinically significant change on the Beck Depression scale II and pre-post changes on the 20-item Medical Outcomes Study Short Form survey-based measure of physical functioning at 9 months\u27 follow-up. Analysis. t-tests and x 2 tests. Complete-case analysis and two intention-to-treat analyses-assumption of no change and multiple imputation (MI)-are reported. Exploratory analyses examined whether the effects of the intervention on depression were moderated by five subject characteristics: Baseline level of depression, baseline level of physical functioning, baseline stage of change for preventing or managing depression, age, and education. Results. Complete-case and intention-to-treat analyses showed that the intervention group experienced significantly greater improvements in depression (d = .220-.355); results for physical functioning were weaker (d = .150-.309) and did not reach statistical significance in the MI analysis. The effects of the intervention on reliable and clinically significant change in depression were largest among participants who were experiencing moderate depression (d = .363-.519) or severe depression (d = .603-.718) or who were in the precontemplation or contemplation stage (d = .573-.856) at baseline. Copyright © 2011 by American Journal of Health Promotion, Inc

Social Cognitive Factors Associated with Mother–Adolescent Communication About Sex

To better understand why some mothers talk to their children about sex and others do not, we examined the role of two social cognitive variables- self-efficacy and outcome expectancies - in explaining sex-based communication. The present study was part of a larger study to test the efficacy of two HIV prevention programs for mothers and their adolescents. Mothers and their adolescents were recruited from a large community organization that serves youth who live in disadvantaged circumstances. The sample for the present study included 486 mothers who averaged 38.4 years of age (SD=6.73). The majority were African American (97.7%), not married (66.7%), and had a high school degree (89.5%). Their adolescents ranged in age from 11 through 14 years of age and most were male (61.3%). The results of the analysis revealed that mothers who expressed higher levels of self-efficacy and more favorable outcomes associated with talking to their children about sex were more likely to do so. In a regression analysis, we learned that the mother's degree of efficacy beliefs, along with her expected outcomes associated with talking about sex, the importance of religious beliefs to her, and the age and sex of her adolescents were important factors associated with talking with them about sex

Prevention profiles: Understanding youth who do not use substances

This study replicates innovative profiles of prevention among students not using substances but who may be at different risks for acquisition. Using the Transtheoretical Model constructs of Decisional Balance and Temptations, cluster analyses were performed on four independent samples of students (n = 1240) in the USA, England and Israel. For each sample, the same four distinct profiles emerged. ANOVAs indicated that the processes of prevention varied significantly across these profiles. The prevention profiles were extended to youth in Elementary, Middle, and High Schools and from a focus on single substances to multiple substances, including alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. Implications for developing prevention programs are also discussed. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved