Positive Adolescent Life Skills Training for High-Risk Teens: Results of a Group Intervention Study

Abstract

This study tested the addition of a cognitive-behavioral skill-building component called Positive Adolescent Life Skills (PALS) training to an existing intervention for urban adolescents to enhance resiliency. In previous pilot work with the existing intervention, called "Teen Club," it was found that participants in group meetings and intensive case management reported an enhanced ability to connect with positive resources. Sixteen adolescents aged 12 to 16 years (10 boys and 6 girls) attending an urban secondary school were randomly assigned to Teen Club or Teen Club plus PALS. Boys and girls met separately in one of the two conditions for 30 weeks. The Problem-Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT) subscale scores were measured at baseline and at the completion of the program. The sample consisted of 11 Black and five Hispanic teens. Between-group differences in the POSIT subscale scores were not significantly different in this small sample. Group interviews conducted at the conclusion of the intervention revealed that participants found the PALS intervention to be relevant and useful. Results suggest that the PALS component strengthened the existing intervention and lend preliminary support for the continuation of this combination of interventions. Future research with larger numbers is needed.