Do elementary school-based child abuse prevention programs work? A high school follow-up

Abstract

Despite the widespread use of school-based abuse prevention programs, few studies support their effectiveness in helping children avoid victimization. Most studies that evaluate prevention programs measure changes in children's knowledge and not subsequent behavior. Further, the link between knowledge, behavior, and the ability to avoid or reduce victimization has not been established. In this study the impact of a school-based prevention program was assessed by surveying students at a high school in southern California where students from feeder elementary and junior high schools were known to have had abuse prevention programs available to them. Data were collected anonymously on 137 high school students during their Health class. A quasi-experimental design was utilized, comparing the 72 students who had attended one or more school-based abuse prevention program with the 65 who stated they had not participated in a prevention program. Demographic similarities between the two groups were established. Students who attended prevention programs were more knowledgeable about abuse concepts and reported fewer incidents of abuse. However, the effectiveness of students' responses to abuse, even when they were using strategies taught by the prevention programs, was variable. Questions about the effectiveness of these strategies with familial and nonfamilial abuse are discussed.

The Effect of the Training Program to Promote the Knowledge and Awareness of Prospective Preschool Teachers on Emotional Neglect and Abuse

“…Hebert et al (2001) administered a child sexual abuse prevention program to 133 children of first to third grades and found that children involved in the prevention program showed greater preventive knowledge and skills compared to children not participating. According to Ko and Merith (2001) high school students attending the school-based abuse prevention program showed a visible increase in the level of knowledge about abuse concepts. Peterson et al (2003) reported that participants, after the child maltreatment prevention program reduced their use of spanking and violence towards children and lessened their unrealistic and dangerous beliefs about children by increasing their use of temperate discipline and skills.…”

School-Based Education Programs for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse

“…In a follow-up study, the same individuals were more likely to use the protective strategies they had been taught when confronted with threats and assaults (Finkelhor, Asdigian, & Dziuba-Leatherman, 1995b). Two further studies with high school (Ko & Cosden, 2001) and college students (Gibson & Leitenberg, 2000) showed programs were associated with reduced incidence of CSA. However, these studies harbor the limitations of retrospective recall and have not been replicated with larger and more diverse samples.…”

Child Maltreatment Trends in the 1990s: Why Does Neglect Differ From Sexual and Physical Abuse?

“…A longitudinal survey of a nationally representative sample of youths found no relationship between exposure to school-based victimization prevention programs and victimization rates (Finkelhor, Asdigian, & Dziuba-Leatherman, 1995). Two more recent studies have found that college undergraduates (Gibson & Leitenberg, 2000) and high school students (Ko & Cosden, 2001) exposed to sexual abuse prevention programs as children experienced fewer victimization experiences than those not exposed to such programs.…”