Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Winter 12-5-2011
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Early Adolescence
Abstract
Early adolescence is a crucial period for preventing teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. This study evaluated STAR LO, a theater-based intervention designed to affect antecedents of sexual activity among urban early adolescents (N = 1,143). Public elementary/middle schools received the intervention or served as a wait-listed comparison group in a quasi-experimental study. Students completed pretest and posttest questionnaires. Multivariate regression models were used to examine treatment effects. Comparison students showed significantly greater increases in sexual intentions and decreases in pro-abstinence attitudes and intended age of first sex than treatment group adolescents. Comparison girls showed significantly greater increases in desire to be a teen parent than STAR LO girls. Treatment group adolescents exhibited greater increases in sexual knowledge than comparison group adolescents, with stronger effects for boys than girls. The results suggest that this theater-based prevention program can help early adolescents develop knowledge, attitudes, and intentions that may prevent future sexual risk behavior.
DOI
10.1177/0272431611424726
MSU Digital Commons Citation
Lieberman, Lisa D.; Berlin, Cydelle; Palen, Lori-Ann; and Ashley, Olivia Silber, "A Theater-Based Approach to Primary Prevention of Sexual Behavior for Early Adolescents" (2011). Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works. 51.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/public-health-facpubs/51
Published Citation
Lieberman, Lisa D., Cydelle Berlin, Lori-Ann Palen, and Olivia Silber Ashley. "A theater-based approach to primary prevention of sexual behavior for early adolescents." The Journal of Early Adolescence 32, no. 5 (2012): 730-753.
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