Effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S.: Preliminary Objective and Subjective Outcome Evaluation Findings

Daniel T.L Shek

doi:10.1100/tsw.2006.238

Abstract

There are two tiers of programs in the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes). In the Tier 1 Program, teaching units based on different positive youth development constructs are covered. Pre- and post-test data utilizing the Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale (CPYDS) and post-test subjective outcome evaluation data were collected from 546 students who participated in the 20h Tier 1 Program of the P.A.T.H.S. Project. Results showed that high proportions of the respondents had positive perceptions of the program and the instructors, with 85.3% of the respondents regarding the program as helpful to them. Positive changes in the program participants in many measures of positive youth development were also observed. Although there were some increases in problem behavior in some areas, adolescent problem behavior was generally stable. The present study provides preliminary support for the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong.

Highlights

A survey of the literature shows that there are worrying trends and phenomena related to the development of adolescents in Hong Kong, such as mental health problems, abuse of psychotropic substances, adolescent suicide, school violence, and drop in family solidarity[1,2,3]
The program participants generally showed improvement with reference to the composite measures of positive youth development based on 10 domains and psychosocial competence, respectively
With specific reference to those participants who joined the Tier 1 Program only and regarded the program was helpful to them (N = 341), there were positive changes in: (a) the composite measure involving 10 domains of positive youth development, (b) the composite measure on psychosocial competence, and (c) some of the subscales

Summary

Introduction

A survey of the literature shows that there are worrying trends and phenomena related to the development of adolescents in Hong Kong, such as mental health problems, abuse of psychotropic substances, adolescent suicide, school violence, and drop in family solidarity[1,2,3]. Primary prevention programs targeting specific adolescent developmental problems and positive youth development programs are called for. Research findings show that there are very few systematic and multiyear positive youth development programs in Hong Kong. Even if such programs exist, they commonly deal with isolated problems and issues in adolescent development (i.e., deficits-oriented programs), and they are relatively short-term in nature. Systematic and long-term evaluation of the available programs does not exist.

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Results

Conclusion