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Impact of the Project P.A.T.H.S. on Adolescent Risk Behavior: A Five-Year Longitudinal Study

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Development and Evaluation of Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programs (P.A.T.H.S.)

Part of the book series: Quality of Life in Asia ((QLAS,volume 3))

Abstract

The present chapter describes the longitudinal effects of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. on adolescent risk behavior based on a 5-year study using a randomized group trial. Eight waves of data were collected from 19 experimental schools in which students participated in the Project P.A.T.H.S. (N = 2,850 at Wave 8) and 24 control schools which did not join the Project P.A.T.H.S. (N = 3,640 at Wave 8). Specifically, different risk behaviors, including delinquency, drug use, and intention of participating in risk behavior in the future, were compared between program participants who perceived the project as beneficial to their development and students in the control group. Results showed that experimental participants who expressed positive subjective evaluation about the program showed significantly slower increases in delinquent behaviors, substance abuse behaviors, and intentions of engaging in risk behaviors in the future than did the control group participants. Two years after the completion of the program, differences in youth risk behaviors in the two groups still existed. The present findings provide further evidence for the long-term effects of the Project P.A.T.H.S in preventing adolescent risk behavior through promoting positive youth development.

The preparation for this chapter and the Project P.A.T.H.S. were financially supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. The authorship carries equally between the two authors. Address all correspondence to Daniel T.L. Shek, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong (e-mail address: daniel.shek@polyu.edu.hk).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong

    Daniel T. L. Shek Ph.D., FHKPS, BBS, JP & Lu Yu Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Daniel T. L. Shek Ph.D., FHKPS, BBS, JP
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  2. Lu Yu Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel T. L. Shek Ph.D., FHKPS, BBS, JP .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR

    Daniel T.L. SHEK

  2. Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Rd, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

    Rachel C. F. Sun

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Shek, D.T.L., Yu, L. (2013). Impact of the Project P.A.T.H.S. on Adolescent Risk Behavior: A Five-Year Longitudinal Study. In: SHEK, D., Sun, R. (eds) Development and Evaluation of Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programs (P.A.T.H.S.). Quality of Life in Asia, vol 3. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4451-54-3_6

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