Student health aide programs for college students have been instrumental in nutrition improvement, medication compliance, general preventive medicine, and in aiding in the mental health delivery system. In this study, headaches and upper respiratory infections constituted a significant percentage of the total visits to the health aide. (JN).
Peer health education as a part of a health risk reduction program at Bowling Green State University is described. Peer health educators are students trained to facilitate the interpretation of other students' health risks indexes and discuss health-related matters. (JMF).
7002 Nagelberg, D. B. (1981). Evaluating a health risk reduction program. Journal of the American College Health Association, 29(6), 269-271.
A health risk reduction program at Bowling Green State University (OHIO) tested the efficacy of peer education against the efficacy of returning (by mail) health questionnaire results. A peer health education program did not appear to be effective in changing student attitudes or lifestyles, however, the research methodology may not be appropriate. (CJ).
This program enables newly diagnosed renal patients facing dialysis or transplantation to meet with someone who has experienced that stress and dealt with it constructively. The authors describe the program and the workshops used to impart specific peer- support skills to patients who volunteer.
Trained peer leaders served as teachers and resource personnel for a high school smoking reduction clinic. Procedures for behavioral self-control were emphasized. Means of selecting and training peer leaders, programs presented at the clinic, and a summary of the results are given. (PP).
Applicants to a weight management specialist training program were compared to controls in their ability to maintain weight control, appropriate eating and activity levels, general well being. The amount of commitment to the specialist role was found to correlate with post- training success.
A 66-week program for the benefit of an 81-year-old male psychotic stroke victim with chronic brain syndrome, was devised. Facets of the treatment included the use of a peer facilitator (an 85-year-old chronic schizophrenic male) to encourage social responsiveness and the teaching of sign language. Results showed that the highest rate of response corresponded to the time of the peer's inclusion in the training.
Summarizes and compares findings from a series of studies of informal, interpersonal help given by four groups: hairdressers, divorce lawyers, industrial supervisors, and bartenders. Discusses the implications for mental health practitioners of the fact that most people do not take their psychological problems to the formal mental health establishment. (Author/GC).
The Unitas Therapeutic Community is a mental health treatment and prevention program for Hispanic and Black children and teenagers in the South Bronx, New York City. Specifically, Unitas has set up a caretaking system in which trained neighbourhood teenagers are available to serve as symbolic "parents" for other youths in need of services. This monograph outlines the steps taken in establishing the South Bronx program, describes Unitas therapeutic methods and techniques, and presents the curriculum used in training Unitas clinical staff and youth workers. (MJL)
Describes a program in which mental patients were trained to use client- centered and experiential therapeutic skills with each other. Detailed training procedures are specified and benefits to patients are reported including three not produced in conventional therapeutic treatment (i.e., helping patients to counter distortions in their view of reality, in relationships, and in their thought processes). Necessary characteristics for trainers are described, and mental health facility problems addressed by this program are listed.
7010 Hinterkopf, E., & Brunswick, L. K. (1981). Teaching mental patients to use client- centered and experiential therapeutic skills with each other. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 18(3), 394-402.
Investigated the effects of teaching 42 acute and chronic schizophrenic inpatients (mean age 27.6 years) to use client-centered reflective and experiential focusing skills with each other. Results indicate that Ss were in learning the majority of skills taught. Significant improvement on community adjustment potential was also revealed.
Presents a case study of spontaneous peer psychotherapy in a daycare setting in which a two-year-old female aided in the socialization of a withdrawn older male. Suggestions for the further study of the daycare setting as a psychotherapeutic milieu are offered. Some of the literature on the importance of peer interactions in child mental health is reviewed.
Suggests the use of undergraduate students for primary prevention programs. Discusses a prevention practicum and assesses it in terms of impact on students, children, and community. Results indicated undergraduates experienced satisfying outcomes demonstrating the value of this type of field experience. (Author).
Explores mental health outcomes reported by 393 self-help-group leaders and administrators of Recovery, Inc.: The Association of Nervous and Former Mental Patients. Both global and domain-specific quality of life indicators were used as measures of mental health. The contributions of the leaders income, health history and recovery career variables were also examined.
Underachieving high school students participated in a companionship program with primary grade children experiencing either acting out or shy anxious school adjustment problems. Program helpers improved significantly on several behavioral dimensions. However, this improvement was eroded one-year later. No school participation or sociometric gains were observed. The acting out children improved significantly on ratings of classroom adjustment. The shy-anxious children, however, improved significantly less than controls. This differential effectiveness is attributed to the fit or match between underachieving students' personal characteristics and natural helping style and the different needs of the two types of children.
Describes the organization of self-help groups (SHGs) in which peer counselling serves as a form of depression intervention for women-at- home.
The helping strategies of six 30-55 year old hairdressers who participated in a 10-week group mental health consultation and training program were assessed in comparison to controls. Although on the pretest both groups heavily used the strategies of advice giving and presenting alternatives, only program participants showed an increase in the "reflection of feelings" on the posttest. The consultation program included goals such as (a) maximizing helping effectiveness through modeling, and (b) education about referrals within the local mental health network.
Summarizes the operations of the peer-regulated program for drug addicts conducted at a VA hospital in California. The Satori approach is described with regard to hospital setting, the patients, and the treatment staff. The successive phases of the program are outlined and an overall evaluation is made of its efficacy.
Results of pre- and post-test measurements of self-concept of recovering alcoholics and former drug addicts (N=156) (who serve as counselors) over a 25-month period exhibited a statistically significant improvement on all scales of the Tennessee Self- Concept Scale. (Author).
Informal peer education is a natural part of high school life. Countless times during the normal course of a school day, information of varying degrees of accuracy on such topics as sex, alcohol, drugs, hygiene and diet passes from one student to another. Often those students who enjoy a high status among their contemporaries are viewed as purveyors of reliable information in these areas. Using trained peer counsellors as health advocates is only a more systematic approach to the natural order of school life. Natural opinion leaders, interested in being more effective helpers are seen as ideal instruments for inculcating healthy lifestyles in a school population. Given proper training, these natural leaders can serve not only as role models but also as advocates of healthy skills and information. (Authors).
A total of 89 overweight children in grades 2-5 in one experimental and one control school participated in a 12-week weight reduction program conducted primarily by older children trained as peer counselors. Children in the experimental school lost 0.15 kg and reduced their percentages overweight by 5.3%, whereas those in the control school gained 1.3 kg and increased their percentage overweight by 0.3%. Program children also showed positive changes in self-concept as compared with a control group and displayed improvements in food selection. Changes in weight, self- concept, and food selection were only partially maintained at 18-week follow-up, however, pointing to the need for an ongoing program of weight loss maintenance. (Authors).
According to this author, peer-pairing is an effective therapeutic technique for the child who is socially isolated. Peer-pairing treatment provides a supportive atmosphere that fosters improved social skills and self-confidence, within which a child can make a friend. The author suggests that peer-pairing is a useful approach with the child for whom group treatment would be too overwhelming and sets forth a model for social work practice with children in dyads.
Fifth and sixth graders acted as tutors to first and second graders in an experimental group. In the control group college dental students tutored first and second graders. The experimental group tutors and tutees improved their scores on tooth hygiene examinations more than the control group tutees. The authors conclude that peer teaching can be an effective mode of instruction. The program increased awareness of dental health, oral hygiene and nutrition. Ninety-three percent of the tutors and 86 percent of those tutored improved their examination scores by the end of the program. Plaque scores were lowered.
The literature on peer-mediated treatment approaches is reviewed, and three types of peer-mediated treatment--proximity, prompt/reinforce, and peer initiation interventions- -are identified. The relative efficacy of these interventions is examined, treatment issues are discussed, and directions for future research are considered.
Brief rationale for the use of peer helpers as an intervention resource when adolescents' health is in jeopardy.
A health screening program was established in an inner-city New York public high school using the services of trained members of the student body as screeners. These students were trained to do a variety of health- related examinations and tests, including getting a medical history, blood pressure, weight, height, temperature, pulse, respiration, urine analysis, gonorrhea culture and vision screening. Supervision and training were provided by a school health educator and members of a medical team from a nearby municipal hospital medical center. The primary goal was to reach, through peer involvement, those students who would be unlikely to interact with the routine health care system. Of the 480 students receiving screening services from their peers, 291 were found to have abnormalities. In addition, a greater awareness of medical issues and available health-care facilities was seen among the student body. Through their training the student screeners were exposed to various health-care fields, thus increasing their awareness of medical career potentials. (Abstract, RAC).
Examined the effectiveness of a peer-managed self-control program to teach responsible drinking that was implemented with 30 American Indians (aged 14-20 years) at high risk for problem drinking. Ss were randomly assigned to three groups incorporated combinations of self- monitoring, peer-assisted self-control training, and alcohol education. Significant decreases were observed in quantity and frequency of drinking and in peak blood alcohol levels. These improvements were maintained at follow-ups of 4, 9, and 12 month posttreatment. Self-report data were corroborated by breath tests and official records. No group differences were found, indicating that minimal and full program interventions had comparable effects. (Psyc Abstr).
Twenty-five 17-63 year old Australian Aborigines and Torres Straight Islanders with serious alcohol abuse histories participated in an alcoholism program that was based on two community mental health principles: (1) Helpers indigenous to a culture and a peer-level status are most readily accepted by their clients and best able to understand their problems, and (2) Through helping others, the therapist gains therapeutic value for him/herself. Results support the usefulness of these principles and demonstrate an association between alcoholism counsellor training, sobriety, and effective vocational functioning. (Authors).
Reviews data from a longitudinal study conducted in 1971-1972 with high school students to examine the nature of friendships and processes of peer influence in adolescent drug involvement within a general developmental perspective. Ss included 4,033 adolescent-parent dyads; 1,879 adolescent-best friend dyads; and 1,112 adolescent-best friend- parent triads. Results show that sociodemographic characteristics were the strongest determinants of friendship formation, with participation in illicit drugs following next in importance. It is reported that both selection (assortative pairing) and socialization contributed to observed similarity in friendship pairs, with Ss coordinating their choice of friends and their values and behaviours, in particular the use of marijuana, so as to maximize congruency in the friendship dyad. Peers were especially important for initiation into marijuana use, while parental factors gained in importance in the transition from marijuana use to the use of other illicit drugs. Interpersonal influences of peers on ongoing marijuana and alcohol use resulted from modeling and imitation more than from social reinforcement and the transmission of values. (Psyc Abstr).
Research on relapse drinking has focused on high-risk drinking situations and strategies for coping with potentially problematic drinking situations among adults. Examination of strategies used by adolescents to resist drinking pressures may help to clarify the developmental process of alcohol consumption. This study examined the coping responses used by adolescents in perceived high-risk drinking situations. Sixty- six adolescents described situations in which it was most difficult to resist drinking. Cognitive and behavioural responses to the perceived high-risk alcohol situations were examined. Abusing and nonabusing adolescents reported similar high-risk drinking situations. The most frequently identified high-risk situations involved direct and indirect pressure from peers. Cognitive and behavioural features of the coping responses employed by adolescents varied significantly as a function of drinking pattern and family history of abuse. Strategies associated with effective coping (not drinking) included defining oneself as a nondrinker, viewing other drinkers negatively, engaging in an alternative activity, and avoiding or limiting direct exposure to the high- risk situations. These findings may give direction to prevention, early intervention, and relapse prevention intervention in the adolescent population. (Author/BL).
Successful peer relationships are critical to children's social development, even more so in view of the increase of single-parent families and children's early enrollment in activities such as day care. This article discusses the literature, describes sociometric procedures for identifying children without friends, and provides two examples of social skills training. (Authors).
Peers exert considerable force, positive as well as negative, on the destiny of a child. There are four critical areas in which peer influence dominates: in finding out how to deal with aggression, in learning about sex, in developing moral standards from within, and in finding emotional security. This article discusses these four areas, and the proposition that children's peer relationships pose a distinct threat for many adults. (SS).
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This study compared two strategies for preventing cigarette smoking among high school students. One strategy emphasized social-pressure resistance skills, while the other focused on education about health concerns which are relevant to high school students. Additionally, the use of same-age peer leaders and the use of familiar models in media presentations were investigated. The results suggest that social- influences resistance training was efficacious in reducing transitions to high use by those who had previously experimented with cigarettes. Health education was more effective in preventing initial experimentation among those who had not smoked prior to the beginning of the study. Neither program was effective in limiting transitions among those who had gone beyond the experimental stage of smoking, and neither had any effect on encouraging cessation. There were no differences which could be attributed to peer leaders or to familiar media models. During later adolescence, a combined health education and social skills training approach is advocated. It is suggested that while there are some gains by implementing programs during late adolescence, prevention programs targeted at younger students may be more effective generally. (Authors).
School health educators have devoted much attention to cigarette smoking. Recent years have been the testing of interventions to prevent smoking. To date, controlled studies have not evaluated the added value of skills methods for preventing smoking. This article describes such an evaluation with sixth-grade students from two schools. Subjects were pretested and randomly assigned to receive conventional health education methods or to receive skills intervention. Both conditions included films, peer testimonials, discussions, and homework. Health education condition subjects additionally participated in oral quizzes, games, and debates. Skills condition subjects additionally learned problem-solving, self- instruction, and interpersonal communication methods. At postintervention, skills condition subjects, more than health education condition subjects, had better scores on measures of smoking-related knowledge, attitudes and intentions. In addition, reported cigarette use, validated by biochemical data collection, was lower in the skills condition than in the health education condition at all postintervention measurements, including a 24-month follow-up. The article discusses the strengths, limits, and implications of the study for other smoking prevention efforts in schools. (Authors).
This study examined the hypotheses that maladjusted children lack specific social cognitive skills. Fourth- and sixth-grade boys with positive (P) and negative (N) peer status were asked to generate alternative solutions to hypothetical problems, to evaluate possible solutions, to describe self-statements, and to rate the likelihood of possible self-statements. Results indicated that N boys generated fewer alternative solutions, proposed fewer assertive and mature solutions, generated more intense aggressive solutions, showed less adaptive planning and evaluated physically aggressive responses more positively and positive responses more negatively than did P boys. These data support the notion that boys with social adjustment problems are deficient in the cognitive problem-solving skill of generating multiple alternative solutions. N boys also appear to lack specific knowledge concerning assertive, mature, and aggressive solution strategies, suggesting that differences in knowledge and/or attitudes concerning normative social behavior may contribute to the more negative behavior patterns observed in N boys. (Authors).
Recent research indicates that a considerable number of children report extreme feelings of loneliness and that unpopular children are more lonely than popular children. In the present study, we assessed feelings of loneliness of two subgroups of unpopular children, those who were sociometrically rejected versus those who were sociometrically neglected. Data on popular, average, and controversial children were also collected. Results from 200 third- through sixth-grade children indicated that rejected children were the most lonely group and that this group differed significantly from other status groups. Neglected children did not differ from higher status peers. Overall, the results provide added evidence of the utility of the distinction between neglected versus rejected status and provide support for earlier conclusions that rejected children are more at risk than are other status groups. (Authors).
There has been considerable research into the effects of peer and parent drug usage on substance abuse by the adolescent. A correlation has been shown to exist between parent usage and increased adolescent substance usage. The parental attitude toward illicit substance use has been positively correlated with adolescent substance use. Once the adolescent starts using illicit drugs, the influence of parents decreases, and the peer influence increases. The research provides further support to Kandel's theory of stages of substance use. In addition, it provides support to the theory that adolescent substance usage is learned, in part, by modeling and imitation. The results are not as conclusive in predicting personality characteristics of the adolescent and parental influence that predate adolescent substance abuse. (Authors).
Support groups and various other supportive efforts have been reported to be a positive factor in the management of stress. In the present paper, the author reviews medical residency programs that offer support groups and have taken other steps in support of the residents' adjustment. The author suggests that residency programs might offer residents support groups that are flexible and convenient and might provide other psychological and social support. Support can be institutionalized through the provision of advisors, individual and marital counseling, and recognition of the importance of residents' emotional health and development. (Author).
The role of peers in adolescent drug use is analyzed by integrating differential association and situational group pressure notions with propositions derived from social bond theory. The resultant casual model is tested for self-reported use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, amphetamines, and depressants. The model explains 49% of the variation in combined drug use among 768 adolescents. The variables from social learning traditions have the strongest effects in the model, but associations with drug- using parents or with pro-drug definitions received from parents or friends have far less impact on drug use than do associations with drug using friends per se. It is argued that differential association with situational pressure to join others in drug use may be more relevant to adolescent drug use than are social bonds or differential association with a ratio of pro-drug to antidrug definitions. (Authors).
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What influences a young person to use or not use a psychoactive drug like cannabis? Does the family provide an atmosphere of support for non-use? These questions are explored through the results of a large scale cannabis educational project. The data here reported point to a strong parental influence when drug use is an issue. The peer group becomes important when a young person has already made the decision to use drugs in the classroom, this has significance for three groups of students. The first group is the non-users who will never become users. These students can be reached by information regarding drug education programs. The second group of students in a classroom is the group who are currently not using, and will likely not ever abuse, but they might be experimenters. These do not particularly want to say no and teaching them refusal skills would not be of overwhelming benefit. The third group is those that are either at high risk for drug abuse or are currently using. Since their family life could be disrupted, some individual counselling would be beneficial. For this group, a reorientation of their lives and alternative life styles can be important teaching strategies. Once they have learned to manage themselves better, then they might benefit from the reinforcement that refusal skills can offer them. (Authors).
A program was adopted at the Royal Jubilee Hospital (Victoria, B.C.) directed towards addressing the personal needs and motivations of patients with diabetes. This report summarizes the program and results in improving the quality of self-care among patients with diabetes. (SS).
This paper examines the recent evolution of drug abuse prevention models and programs and details the necessity for having peer helpers actively involved in the delivery of an abuse prevention curriculum in the schools. The approach recommended emphasizes the need to strengthen adolescent social competence and decision-making skills. Drug abuse prevention curriculums which include peer counsellors or other peer leaders to help deliver the curriculum have been shown to be highly effective. (RAC/SS).
Poor compliance with contraceptive regimens has been shown to be an important antecedent of adolescent pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of a peer nurse counselling program on adolescent compliance with the use of oral contraceptives. Fifty-seven females aged 14 to 19 years were randomly assigned to a peer or a nurse group. Subjects were counseled at initial visit and at one, two, and four month follow up visits. At the first and second follow-ups, the peer-counseled adolescents had a significantly lower noncompliance level than the nurse counseled group. At the fourth month follow-up, adolescents who expressed feelings of hopelessness about the future had significantly higher levels of noncompliance when counselled by a nurse than when counseled by a peer. These results suggest that incorporating a peer counselor into the health care team may be an effective way of increasing adolescent compliance. (Authors/SS).
Reviews the use of child-child interaction as a method of therapeutic intervention in the social and behavioral difficulties of children. Interventions programmed by adults include the use of peers as social reinforcers and as social initiators; unprogrammed interventions include group integration, peer-pairing, and social skills training plus interaction. Results show that manipulation of the social environment to change the behavior and responsiveness of a child's peers can be an effective method of bringing about desired behavior change in a target child; increasing the child's contacts with peers through unprogrammed interactions appears to be generally ineffective unless accompanied by social skills training. (Psyc Abstr).
A brief description of a peer education program designed to combat drug abuse at Charles P. Allen High School in Bedford, Nova Scotia. (RAC).
Social support has been shown to be one way to modify the long-term effect of the death of a parent. School counsellors are in a position to be able to effect the amount and kind of support provided to bereaved teenagers. The peer support group is an effective way to help teenagers deal with a loss, one that most group participants have experienced as beneficial. This paper summarizes the effectiveness of a peer support bereavement group operating in Peel County, Ontario. (Author/SS).
This paper describes a non-school oriented peer-helping program. Adolescents who could benefit from such a program include pregnant teenagers who refuse to go to prenatal classes, heavy marijuana users who continue their habit despite counseling, overweight teens who won't stick to a diet, diabetics who are unwilling to test their urine, and cystic fibrosis patients who skip physiotherapy. This paper describes selection of leaders, recruitment of adolescents, designing the program, and supervision. (Author/SS).
The present study investigated the use of popular students in promoting the acceptance of socially neglected children. A sociometric questionnaire was administered to 573 fifth- and sixth-grade students. Ninety-five socially neglected children were identified and randomly assigned to experimental or control groups. Four to eight popular students were also selected as student peer facilitators from each class included in the study. These students were instructed weekly in social skills and assigned to work with a target child within their own classroom. Assessment after treatment indicated that students in the experimental group increased significantly in peer acceptance, whereas no significant change occurred in the control group. The authors suggest this approach could serve as an alternative to one-to-one sessions with adults and may assist school psychologists to function more in the role of consultant and prevention agent. Anecdotal evidence indicated the peer leaders also benefitted from the experience. (Authors/RAC).
Describes a university peer nutrition consulting service designed to meet student needs for nutrition information and to provide practical, experiential activities related to future careers in nutrition to upperclassmen and graduate students majoring in dietetics. (Psyc Abstr).
Describes a program in which a total of four male and 13 female chronically ill adolescents have spent from one to three summers working beside other adolescents as counselors to chronically ill hospitalized children. Ss are helped to cope with their illness while helping their peers. The program directly addresses three areas of concern and stress in the lives of the chronically ill adolescents: poor body image, social isolation, and self-control. (Psyc Abstr).
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In the North Karelia Youth Program five to 10 classroom sessions over two years taught skills to resist pressures to start smoking to 13 to 15 year old students. Compared to students from comparison schools, the treatment groups reported less smoking immediately after the intervention and in a four-year follow-up survey. At the eight-year follow-up, there was consistent evidence of possible preventive effects only among those who had been non-smokers when the program began. (Authors).
Probes the phenomena of suicide and teen suicide specifically by looking at (a) B.C. statistics, (b) the effect of someone's suicide on friends and family members, and (c) reasons for suicide. As well, the article cites local programs like the Prince George Crisis Centre's Community Education Program, which offers suicide prevention courses in high school and Heartbeat's support of family survivors of suicide. It concludes with the idea that while no one is responsible for an individual's suicide, family members and friends can help by providing support for a teen who is depressed and socially isolated. (NPC).
"Peer pressure" and "everyone is doing it" have been used as excuses for some drug- taking behavior for too long. We must look harder into reasons for drug use and neither accept these concepts nor teach our young people that this is what is really happening. (Author).
Tobacco, alcohol, and drug use are problems for American-Indian people. We reviewed these problems and the explanations for them and described a bicultural competence skills approach for preventing substance abuse with American-Indian adolescents. Data from a study of that approach suggests its efficacy with American- Indian youth. A posttest and a six- month follow-up, American-Indian subjects who received preventive intervention based on bicultural competence skills concepts improved more than did American-Indian subjects in a no-intervention control condition on measures of substance-use knowledge, attitudes, and interactive skills, and on self-reported rates of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. Our findings have implications for future substance-abuse prevention research with American-Indian people. (Authors).
This article examines the etiology, warning signs and preventative measures that may be used in combating teenage suicide. It also presents information to help friends and parents become more aware of the general emotional atmosphere that exists around teenagers. It also discusses the important role peer counsellors play in dealing with the issue of suicide. (Authors/KM).
A peer counselling program was developed as a method for preventing drug and alcohol abuse among high school juniors and seniors. The program was implemented and the results were monitored to evaluate the impact of the program on the students. An analysis of the data showed that the students were able to learn and utilize peer counselling skills, but that the prevention of drug abuse could not be documented in this study. Subjective reports, however, were found to support the effects of the program. (Author).
Questionnaire data were obtained from 120 high school students on their (1) knowledge of risk factors that identify potential suicidal behavior in peers, (2) attitudes toward peers who attempt or commit suicide, and (3) ability to respond appropriately to suicidal messages from peers. Overall, relatively few adolescents possessed accurate information, and many had misinformation concerning various warning signs. Furthermore, respondents expressed negative attitudes toward peers who attempt or commit suicide, and generally were unable to respond sensitively and appropriately to suicidal communications. These results have implications for suicide education programs for adolescents. (Authors).
This essay by a "typical teen" at Prince George Senior Secondary, outlines reasons for contemplating suicide and signs to watch for that indicate a possible suicide attempt. The author believes public awareness and a concerted commitment to solicit the feelings of those considering suicide would help lower the suicide rate. A community program is cited for teenagers who want to talk to someone about their problems. (NPC).
The present study assessed the relative effectiveness of doctoral counseling students and lay facilitators in conducting smoking cessation programs. Subjects (55 women and 61 men) were randomly assigned to doctoral or to lay facilitators. Consistent with prediction, lay facilitators were at least as effective as doctoral students. Overall results were comparable to those obtained in previous work in this laboratory. Allowing a choice of preparation technique may in itself enhance treatment outcome. The ability of lay facilitators to achieve clinically effective results provides further support for the generalizability of treatment to community settings. (Author).
The article reports on the results of an evaluation of a school drug and alcohol prevention curriculum marketed under the title, "Here's Looking at You, Two." Previous evaluations, unreported in the literature and having unresolved methodological problems, have found that while the program appears effective at transmitting information regarding drug and alcohol abuse, it has not been effective at changing the underlying attitudes and behaviors that, in part, explain substance abuse. Employing a more rigorous methodology, our examination of a relatively large sample across five school districts provides support for previous findings. Over the short-term of one year, the program was particularly effective at transmitting substance information to primary and middle school students. The program, however, produced very little of the expected effect on the underlying attitudes that are critical to changing substance abuse behaviors. (Author).
Presents eight dichotomies faced by decision-makers and educators concerned with drug education. Dichotomies are identified in the areas of problem identification, etiological underpinnings, program objectives, target audiences, and effective strategies. Recommends viewing drug education within broad framework that considers origins and prevention of drug use and problems. (Author/NB).
This study attempted to identify factors associated with smoking onset among teens. It was hypothesized that initial cigarette smoking is largely prompted by peers, and that these prompts and subsequent social reinforcement may account for smoking participation. An in-depth structured interview investigating the first three smoking and smoking pressure experiences was conducted with 157 teens, including persistent experimental smokers (who smoked more than 10 cigarettes), minimal experimental smokers (who smoked less than 10 cigarettes), and nonsmokers. Analysis confirmed that prompting by peers is characteristic of a large majority of smoking onset situations. Initial situations are much more likely to involve others of the same sex. In roughly half of the incidents another young person was trying a cigarette for the first time. Persistent experimenters, when compared with minimal experimenters, were exposed to significantly more influences to smoke. These influences included modeling and social encouragement. Additional data suggested that persistent experimenters were more primed to smoke than minimal experimenters. For example, they had engaged in more premeditation, accepted offers to smoke with less hesitation, and inhaled more frequently. Also, pleasant emotional and physiological effects discriminated continuers from quitters. Nonsmokers appeared to possess more effective response strategies to refuse cigarettes. Implications of these data for prevention program design are discussed.
This article reviews the major approaches to school-based substance abuse prevention and focuses on school organizational issues which must be considered in the implementation of such programs. In addition, the need for multilevel interventions, which include parents, the community, and media, is explored. (Authors).
Outlines the ineffectiveness of sole reliance on anti-drug information to stem drug abuse among young people, and, after sketching some observations about youthful drug use, outlines contexts for more effective school-based prevention programs. Measures explored for a more comprehensive program include linking the home, the school and the community into a more unified approach that addresses the varied factors that affect drug use and abuse among youth. Aspects would include not only information about drugs and the promotion of good health, but resources to help develop self-esteem, and decision-making and coping skills. Among specific measures cited as components of a comprehensive drug abuse prevention program are peer counseling and peer and cross-age tutoring and teaching. (NPC).
An analysis of factors leading schools to be a significant source of stress to children is presented. Debilitating school stress is seen as linked to forces, including some in prominent movements for school "reform," that push schools to overemphasize academic acceleration, competition, evaluation, and test-based accountability. The paradoxical effects of these forces are to impede acquisition of academic skills and minimize opportunities for children to develop crucial competencies needed for citizenship, responsible adulthood, parenthood, and management of the complex world of work. Recommendations based on developmental and empirical considerations are presented to reduce the debilitating stress in our schools. The tenacious leadership and coordinated, sustained planning required to enact some of these recommendations is noted and encouraged.
One-hundred and fifty-five ninth grade students participated in a study investigating student tendency to comply with peers in various, risky alcohol and driving situations. Experimental groups received a one-week preventive alcohol education component consisting of film, question/answer, role playing and slide show. Results showed experimental groups reporting significantly (p<.01) lower levels of compliance toward the risky situations. Results are discussed in relation to psychological research on the compliance phenomenon and the implications for health education curriculum planners. (Author).
The author proposes that self-concept development is integral to effective health education. Self-concept components including self definition, internal locus of control and positive strokes are each presented followed by a review of several self-concept enhancement activities. A number of the activities focus around encouraging self- praise and "dropping the self-praise taboo." An understanding of the theory of self-concept as well as some accompanying "enhancement" activities may have application to peer counselling programs. (GHS).
This article describes a set of studies which compare the effectiveness of innovative interventions led by older peers and which included a parent component with teacher- led interventions for nutrition, blood pressure, and smoking prevention. Information about the agreement between parents' and children's (grades 6 through 8) perception of the children's health behavior and family interaction was also found, by surveying parents and children in 1051 households. Both teacher-led and older peer-led interventions were successful in increasing behavioral capabilities for nutrition and blood pressure, measured one year after the interventions. Results of the parent-child survey showed reasonable agreement between parents and children for reports of the child's exercise, dieting, and fast food consumption, but poorer agreement for smoking and perceptions of family interaction. Results are discussed in relation to the planning of future programs designed to address the importance of peer and parental role models. (Authors).
To test the effectiveness of a psychosocial strategy of smoking deterrence on seventh grade students, the School Health Education Development project implemented peer- led, teacher-led, and expert-led interventions in six Vermont schools. Four additional schools served as control groups. The teacher-led approach reduced the rate of smoking onset and the intention to smoke in the future among highly vulnerable females but not among males. The peer-led approach reduced the behavioral intention to smoke for both sexes but did not affect current smoking behavior. The expert-led approach did not produce favorable effects. Both the peer-led and teacher-led interventions had positive, though not significant, effects on student perception of locus of control. In the control schools, females experienced higher levels of smoking onset than males. Generally, the study points toward further development of a teacher-led approach to smoking deterrence based on the theory of adolescent psychosocial development and the principle of continuous reinforcement. (Authors).
A three-day life skills re-education program, embedded in a 10-week-long new employee basic training had no long-term effects on alcohol and drug knowledge and attitudes. Nevertheless, this study provided substantive and methodological hypotheses: (1) a primary prevention program which addresses an adult population is probably offered too late in the process of the development of alcohol and drug habits, (2) a life skills approach is probably better suited for adults inscribed in a secondary prevention program, and (3) long-term evaluation using strong designs are necessary before concluding in the effectiveness of any prevention program. (Author).
A method was developed for empirically evaluating the functioning of subjective observations of various problems. The results were used in designing a three-part intervention aimed at improving the organization's functioning by (1) increasing student control, (2) enhancing cohesiveness, and (3) providing training in leadership skills and alcohol use. A reassessment one year later indicated that the intervention had positively impacted the organization's functioning, although some problems continued. The method and results of the evaluation and intervention are discussed in terms of consultation to peer-based alcohol abuse prevention organizations and the rationales behind such groups. (Authors).
The author reviews an article by Nancy Tabler which is a "Meta-analysis of 143 Adolescent Drug Prevention Programs." The results of this analysis are summarized and the implications for substance abuse prevention programming are highlighted. The effectiveness of the peer helping model in programming is reviewed. (CS).
Numerous programs addressing employee alcohol abuse and dependence have appeared in organizations in the U.S. since the 1940's. Employee Assistance Programs (EAP's) have effectively used a dual strategy of constructive confrontation and counseling for dealing with problem drinkers at the work site. In many organizations, however, practitioners have begun to treat problem drinkers by altering this strategy and/or relying on health promotion programs (HPPs) and quality of work life (QWL) efforts. The quality of work life efforts include a variety of strategies, under which peer counseling would be located. This article compares EAPs, HPPs, and QWL discussing their theoretical underpinnings, methods, and demonstrated effectiveness in treating alcohol abuse and dependence. The author encourages cooperation among EAP, HPP, and QWL practitioners in addressing work place factors related to drinking problems, and makes several recommendations for future research. (Author/CS).
Adolescent pregnancy and parenting are major societal problems. The authors describe a peer counselling model aimed at preventing repeat pregnancy and school drop out among adolescent mothers. Well-functioning teen mothers were paid to be peer counsellors to younger pregnant teens. Repeat pregnancy, school, and employment status were evaluated after the intervention, suggesting the program's positive impact. (Authors).
This study investigated the effectiveness of renal peer resource consultation on the psychosocial adjustment, compliance to medical regimen, and quality of life of participants. The kidney support volunteer program at the Victoria General Hospital was examined. The findings of the study are inconclusive about the benefits and risks of the renal peer resource consultation program and suggestions for further research are included. (CS).
A peer helping program in a hospital setting is described. Issues surrounding recruitment and selection, training, utilization of peers and evaluation are described. (CS).
Peer education is an important part of health education programs. In smoking prevention programs, peer leaders are particularly efficacious. Yet, research on peer leaders' perceptions of these programs in minimal. This study assessed the perceptions of elected peer leaders (N=207) in one seventh grade smoking prevention program and one chemical abuse prevention program in spring 1984. Peer leaders' assessments of the adequacy of their training, the programs' components, the programs' influence on their behavior and attitudes, and the efficacy of the programs were analyzed. Differences between genders and the level of peer leader enthusiasm also were assessed. Further research with peer leaders is suggested as a way to strengthen ongoing health promotion efforts. (Authors).
This paper provides the foundation and rationale for involving peers in dropout prevention. Based on specific predictions about the changing work world, the author argues that a vision of the future is necessary to understand the importance of high school graduation for all students and suggests distinctions between vocational and academic students be abandoned. The author proposes that student concerns for relevance, rewards and relationships or the "New 3R's" explain why students leave school early. He suggests that dropout prevention programs must have an impact on the ecology or climate of the school. By drawing on the conclusions from research on dropping out and by adding perspectives from decision-making models, the lived experience of dropping out, and the role of peer influence, the author details eight specific roles peers can play as part of a dropout prevention team.
Peer educators provided workshops on various alcohol abuse issues, particularly alcohol impaired driving. The program attracted mostly female students from residence halls and did not attract those in most need (men, off-campus apartment dwellers, those who drink heavily and students with problem drinking family members or friends). The author cautions against thinking that peer education can serve as a principle intervention, and suggests that comprehensive strategies using a variety of interventions are necessary to attract the target population. (RAC)
This article reviews the literature on peer relations and social adjustment of children and adolescents with chronic illness. The authors conclude that there are contradictory findings as to whether differences exist between chronically ill and healthy children. Suggestions are made as to the value of having peers for support and some evidence for the value of social skill training is presented. The problems particular to chronically ill children such as change in appearance, and restrictions placed on activities provide a focus for how peer helpers could assist and in what ways chronically ill children may make appropriate peer helpers. (RAC)
Since the late 1960's, evaluators have examined the use of school-based alcohol and drug education programs as a means of substance abuse prevention. Narrative reviews of these evaluations agree on two points. The evaluations are generally of poor quality and they do not provide evidence that substance abuse education reduces drug use. This study used meta-analysis to review a carefully selected sample of evaluations in this area. Outcomes of thirty-three evaluations were statistically integrated. The meta- analysis showed that typical substance abuse education had its most positive effects on knowledge and attitudes, but was unsuccessful in changing the drug-using behaviors of students. Attitudinal effects were significantly higher when peers were used as instructional leaders and when group discussion was part of the instructional method. Furthermore, students who volunteered for substance abuse education reported lower drug use after treatment than did students who were required to participate in such programs. (Author)
Low emotional restraint, not peer models or peer pressure were more likely to be responsible for connection to gateway drug use. (RAC)