Impact of the project P.A.T.H.S. on adolescent risk behavior : a five-year longitudinal study

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.