The document summarizes the It's Your Game: Keep It Real (IYG) program, a comprehensive sex education intervention for middle school students. The program combines lectures, group activities, computer-based activities, writing assignments, and parent-child interaction. An evaluation found IYG reduced sexual activity rates among participants compared to those receiving standard education by 9th grade. While effective, the program has not been evaluated for other socioeconomic groups and could better address cultural factors influencing sexuality.
In Africa, the concept of Guidance and Counseling although relatively new in educational systems, has been embraced by most governments. Although most African countries recognize the essential role of organized Guidance and Counseling Programmes, there are limited researches studies conducted to assess the effectiveness of the programmed services being implemented to improve the student’s decision making processes that lead to improved future benefits. Research is yet to identify gender specific strategies to positive psychosexual development in boys and girls that can promote safe reproductive health. A wide spread ignorance on the subject of sex is due to the fact that the subject has been surrounded with mystery and beclouded by dark silence. The result has increased curiosity and desire to acquire more knowledge on this forbidden subject; yet, the people entrusted with the responsibility of educating the adolescents on the subject have not made appropriate information readily available. The study investigated effectiveness of guidance and counselling programmes on academic achievement among public secondary school students in Bungoma South Sub-County, Kenya. The study adopted Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory postulated in 1986. A descriptive research design was used with target population of 52 guiding and counselling teachers. A sample of 16 participants was selected using, using 30% of Mugenda and Mugenda (2003) and randomly selected from 52 schools. Data was collected using structured interview schedule and questionnaire and analyzed descriptively. Results highlights teacher counselling and peer counselling were the most effective strategies in guidance and counselling as compared to students suspension and corporal punishment. More than half of guidance and counselling teachers asserted that schools had inadequate policy and manual procedures and code of ethics and regulation governing sexual behaviour. This paper points at need of guidance and counselling departments to develop policies and manual procedures on sex and relationship education that acts as a reference point to all members of the school. In addition, the Government should set up reproductive health institutions for the youth, promote peer counseling, talks by health providers in schools which has a bearing on students’ performance.
The adolescent stage is a period of turmoil marked with enormous vibrancy, discovery, innovation and hope and also the time when many of them initiate sexual relationships and involvement. This can be a challenging time for young people who are becoming aware of their sexual and reproductive rights and needs, and who rely on their families, peers, schools, media and health service providers for affirmation, advice, information and the skills to navigate is sometimes a difficult transition to adulthood. The subject on sex has been surrounded by mystery and beclouded by dark silence as neither parents nor teachers are ready to discuss it with teenagers despite unplanned pregnancies, dropping out of school by students, Sexually Transmitted Infections among teenagers. The study investigated influence of teen contraceptive use) on academic achievement among public secondary school students in Bungoma South Sub-County, Kenya. The study adopted Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory postulated in 1986. A descriptive research design was used with target population of 3774 Form 3 students. A sample of 400 students was selected using, Miller, L.R. & Brewer, J.D. (2003) mathematical formula and stratified randomly from 52 schools and conveniently selected equally between boys and girls. Data was collected using structured interview schedule and questionnaire and analyzed descriptively. Results highlights most students were aware about contraceptive use with females slightly more than males and media was the major source of information on contraceptive use while parents/guardians had no significant contribution since teenagers rarely receive their first information on sexual matters from their parents. More than half of the sexually active students used contraceptives though it still interfered with their academic performance. This paper points at sex education curriculum in schools, setting up reproductive health institutions for the youth and distribution of contraceptives among teenagers which has a bearing on students’ performance.
College Students' Attitude towards Premarital Sex: Implication for Guidance a...AJSERJournal
In many African countries, discussing sexuality still remains a taboo, despite the increasing number of
sexual activities among college students. The study sought to find out college students attitude towards premarital sex
and the implication of guidance and counselling. It was guided by the social learning theory. Using a descriptive survey
design data was collected through personally delivered questionnaire to 452 students who were randomly selected
from middle level colleges in Nakuru County. The questionnaire was validated through piloting in one college outside
Nakuru. Reliability coefficient for questionnaire was estimated through test-retest method and Cronbach’s alpha stood
at R=84. Data was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative data. Study findings indicate that 258 or 57% of the
respondents were liberal about premarital sex and viewed it as a normal act that should not attract criticism. A total of
194 or 43% were conservative and believed that it is against the norms of society and the teachings of the church.
Factors associated with premarital sex, include love, peer pressure, drug abuse and economic factors. Counselling was
seen as the best strategic to handle sex issues, but was not effective due to stigma associated with premarital sex. The
study recommended the college administrators step up strategies to supervise both the social and academic life of the
students. By providing them with information, to make informed consent on sexual matters.
Early Learning Experiences - ebookschoice.comnoblex1
Documented efforts to enhance the development of children, especially to remediate the consequences of deprivation, have taken place since the early nineteenth century, when researchers learned that certain types of early experience were essential for the emergence of high intellectual functioning. More recently, studies of children in orphanages in the 1950s and 1960s initiated the investigation of what young children need to ensure healthy growth and development.
Source: https://ebookschoice.com/early-learning-experiences/
In Africa, the concept of Guidance and Counseling although relatively new in educational systems, has been embraced by most governments. Although most African countries recognize the essential role of organized Guidance and Counseling Programmes, there are limited researches studies conducted to assess the effectiveness of the programmed services being implemented to improve the student’s decision making processes that lead to improved future benefits. Research is yet to identify gender specific strategies to positive psychosexual development in boys and girls that can promote safe reproductive health. A wide spread ignorance on the subject of sex is due to the fact that the subject has been surrounded with mystery and beclouded by dark silence. The result has increased curiosity and desire to acquire more knowledge on this forbidden subject; yet, the people entrusted with the responsibility of educating the adolescents on the subject have not made appropriate information readily available. The study investigated effectiveness of guidance and counselling programmes on academic achievement among public secondary school students in Bungoma South Sub-County, Kenya. The study adopted Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory postulated in 1986. A descriptive research design was used with target population of 52 guiding and counselling teachers. A sample of 16 participants was selected using, using 30% of Mugenda and Mugenda (2003) and randomly selected from 52 schools. Data was collected using structured interview schedule and questionnaire and analyzed descriptively. Results highlights teacher counselling and peer counselling were the most effective strategies in guidance and counselling as compared to students suspension and corporal punishment. More than half of guidance and counselling teachers asserted that schools had inadequate policy and manual procedures and code of ethics and regulation governing sexual behaviour. This paper points at need of guidance and counselling departments to develop policies and manual procedures on sex and relationship education that acts as a reference point to all members of the school. In addition, the Government should set up reproductive health institutions for the youth, promote peer counseling, talks by health providers in schools which has a bearing on students’ performance.
The adolescent stage is a period of turmoil marked with enormous vibrancy, discovery, innovation and hope and also the time when many of them initiate sexual relationships and involvement. This can be a challenging time for young people who are becoming aware of their sexual and reproductive rights and needs, and who rely on their families, peers, schools, media and health service providers for affirmation, advice, information and the skills to navigate is sometimes a difficult transition to adulthood. The subject on sex has been surrounded by mystery and beclouded by dark silence as neither parents nor teachers are ready to discuss it with teenagers despite unplanned pregnancies, dropping out of school by students, Sexually Transmitted Infections among teenagers. The study investigated influence of teen contraceptive use) on academic achievement among public secondary school students in Bungoma South Sub-County, Kenya. The study adopted Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory postulated in 1986. A descriptive research design was used with target population of 3774 Form 3 students. A sample of 400 students was selected using, Miller, L.R. & Brewer, J.D. (2003) mathematical formula and stratified randomly from 52 schools and conveniently selected equally between boys and girls. Data was collected using structured interview schedule and questionnaire and analyzed descriptively. Results highlights most students were aware about contraceptive use with females slightly more than males and media was the major source of information on contraceptive use while parents/guardians had no significant contribution since teenagers rarely receive their first information on sexual matters from their parents. More than half of the sexually active students used contraceptives though it still interfered with their academic performance. This paper points at sex education curriculum in schools, setting up reproductive health institutions for the youth and distribution of contraceptives among teenagers which has a bearing on students’ performance.
College Students' Attitude towards Premarital Sex: Implication for Guidance a...AJSERJournal
In many African countries, discussing sexuality still remains a taboo, despite the increasing number of
sexual activities among college students. The study sought to find out college students attitude towards premarital sex
and the implication of guidance and counselling. It was guided by the social learning theory. Using a descriptive survey
design data was collected through personally delivered questionnaire to 452 students who were randomly selected
from middle level colleges in Nakuru County. The questionnaire was validated through piloting in one college outside
Nakuru. Reliability coefficient for questionnaire was estimated through test-retest method and Cronbach’s alpha stood
at R=84. Data was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative data. Study findings indicate that 258 or 57% of the
respondents were liberal about premarital sex and viewed it as a normal act that should not attract criticism. A total of
194 or 43% were conservative and believed that it is against the norms of society and the teachings of the church.
Factors associated with premarital sex, include love, peer pressure, drug abuse and economic factors. Counselling was
seen as the best strategic to handle sex issues, but was not effective due to stigma associated with premarital sex. The
study recommended the college administrators step up strategies to supervise both the social and academic life of the
students. By providing them with information, to make informed consent on sexual matters.
Early Learning Experiences - ebookschoice.comnoblex1
Documented efforts to enhance the development of children, especially to remediate the consequences of deprivation, have taken place since the early nineteenth century, when researchers learned that certain types of early experience were essential for the emergence of high intellectual functioning. More recently, studies of children in orphanages in the 1950s and 1960s initiated the investigation of what young children need to ensure healthy growth and development.
Source: https://ebookschoice.com/early-learning-experiences/
The Effectiveness of HIV/Aids Education in Promoting Interventions for A Supp...QUESTJOURNAL
ABSTRACT: HIV/AIDS education is supposed to not only be a medium of creating awareness but also most importantly promote practices and skills to enable HIV prevention among youth in schools. This article reports on a study whose purpose was to assess the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS education in promoting interventions for a supportive environment in secondary schools. Specifically, the study sought to find out the extent to which interventions for a supportive environment for HIV/AIDS prevention were emphasized to youth; and explore the factors that influenced the promotion of the interventions. The study focused on youth involvement, parental involvement and HIV/AIDS prevention friendly school policies. The findings of the study established that the potential of the youth in enabling HIV/AIDS prevention among their fellow peers was not fully exploited. Parental involvement was low especially among the fathers. Parents rarely engaged in discussions on topics that dealt with sexuality. HIV/AIDS prevention friendly policies were ineffectively promoted in schools. Factors that influenced the promotion of the interventions were explored.
During the past century, social policies and programs for Nigerian children, youth, and families have undergone frequent shifts in philosophy and direction. Many policy frameworks, such as selective legibility universal prevention, rehabilitation, and punishment, have contributed to the conceptual bases for services, programs, and interventions designed for young people. However, the most consistent characteristic of Nigerian social policy for children and families may be the sheer inconsistency of efforts aimed at helping the nation’s most vulnerable populations. Recent advances in understanding the developmental processes associated with the onset and persistence of childhood and adolescent problems warrant new thinking about policies and programs., we have learned more about why some children and adolescents develop social and health problems, and in the case of such problems as sexually transmitted infections, drug use, and delinquency why some youths make choices that lead to poor outcomes at home and in school and the community. Unfortunately, this knowledge is not yet systematically applied to policy or program design, which results in poorly specified, inadequately integrated, and wastefully duplicated services for children and families. The motivation for this volume comes from the growing recognition that knowledge gained from understanding the developmental trajectories of children who experience social and health problems must be used to craft more effective policies and programs.
Talk given at Youth-Nex, at the University of Virginia. During the last decade, there have been significant advances in social and emotional learning (SEL) research, practice, and policy. This talk will highlight key areas of progress and challenges as we broadly implement school-family-community partnerships to foster positive behavioral, academic, and life outcomes for preschool to high school students. My goal for this presentation is to provide a foundation to foster group discussion about future priorities for the next decade.
This webinar was developed by Child Trends for the Office of
Adolescent Health (OAH) as a technical assistance product for use with OAH grant programs.
The Effectiveness of HIV/Aids Education in Promoting Interventions for A Supp...QUESTJOURNAL
ABSTRACT: HIV/AIDS education is supposed to not only be a medium of creating awareness but also most importantly promote practices and skills to enable HIV prevention among youth in schools. This article reports on a study whose purpose was to assess the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS education in promoting interventions for a supportive environment in secondary schools. Specifically, the study sought to find out the extent to which interventions for a supportive environment for HIV/AIDS prevention were emphasized to youth; and explore the factors that influenced the promotion of the interventions. The study focused on youth involvement, parental involvement and HIV/AIDS prevention friendly school policies. The findings of the study established that the potential of the youth in enabling HIV/AIDS prevention among their fellow peers was not fully exploited. Parental involvement was low especially among the fathers. Parents rarely engaged in discussions on topics that dealt with sexuality. HIV/AIDS prevention friendly policies were ineffectively promoted in schools. Factors that influenced the promotion of the interventions were explored.
During the past century, social policies and programs for Nigerian children, youth, and families have undergone frequent shifts in philosophy and direction. Many policy frameworks, such as selective legibility universal prevention, rehabilitation, and punishment, have contributed to the conceptual bases for services, programs, and interventions designed for young people. However, the most consistent characteristic of Nigerian social policy for children and families may be the sheer inconsistency of efforts aimed at helping the nation’s most vulnerable populations. Recent advances in understanding the developmental processes associated with the onset and persistence of childhood and adolescent problems warrant new thinking about policies and programs., we have learned more about why some children and adolescents develop social and health problems, and in the case of such problems as sexually transmitted infections, drug use, and delinquency why some youths make choices that lead to poor outcomes at home and in school and the community. Unfortunately, this knowledge is not yet systematically applied to policy or program design, which results in poorly specified, inadequately integrated, and wastefully duplicated services for children and families. The motivation for this volume comes from the growing recognition that knowledge gained from understanding the developmental trajectories of children who experience social and health problems must be used to craft more effective policies and programs.
Talk given at Youth-Nex, at the University of Virginia. During the last decade, there have been significant advances in social and emotional learning (SEL) research, practice, and policy. This talk will highlight key areas of progress and challenges as we broadly implement school-family-community partnerships to foster positive behavioral, academic, and life outcomes for preschool to high school students. My goal for this presentation is to provide a foundation to foster group discussion about future priorities for the next decade.
This webinar was developed by Child Trends for the Office of
Adolescent Health (OAH) as a technical assistance product for use with OAH grant programs.
Causal relationships between risk estimates and alcohol consumptio.docxcravennichole326
Causal relationships between risk estimates and alcohol consumption must be made cautiously as most studies have used a cross-sectional methodology, poor definitions of alcohol use, and inadequate assessments of risk perceptions. Despite a lack of evidence, the concept of adolescent “invulnerability” remains pervasive in both scientific and lay circles, is used to explain adolescents' decisions to engage in a potentially harmful behavior and is incorporated into many intervention programs (Fell, et al., 2015). Longitudinal, prospective studies are needed to understand fully the extent to which perceptions of low risk predict and motivate alcohol use.
I. Perceptions of Alcohol-Related Benefits:
An emphasis on perceived risk alone may be inadequate to predict or change behavior because a risk is only part of the behavioral decision-making equation. What is missing knows the extent to which adolescents perceive benefits of risky behaviors. The decision literature has argued that individuals should consider both the risks and benefits when making decisions. In addition, alcohol expectancy researchers have found that perceived benefits, in addition to perceived risks, are significant predictors of drinking behavior. More recently, Goldberg and colleagues (2002) concluded that, regardless of age, participants with more drinking experience perceived benefits to be more likely to occur, and risks less likely (Grube & Voas, 2014).
Indeed, adolescents' reasons for drinking alcohol often include an acknowledgment or identification of alcohol-related benefits, such as alcohol being used in social interactions to help them to reduce inhibitions, feel more relaxed reduce tension, foster courage, and reduce worry. Attachment theories are based on the view that human beings have an intrinsic and universal desire to be accepted by others. Parent attachment is broadly conceptualized as the overall level of parental responsiveness toward the offspring.
The youth’s internalization of the security of attachment is expected to be imprinted heuristically through interaction with the caregiver, in time becoming relatively resistant to change, showing enduring effects across the lifespan (Miller, et al., 2010). Through the formation of secure bonds to parents, children acquire a robust internal working model of themselves and others.
Youth with secure attachment to parents develop the skills necessary to regulate their Attachment emotional theories are based on the view that human beings have an intrinsic and universal desire to be accepted by others. Parent attachment is broadly conceptualized as the overall level of parental responsiveness toward the offspring (Foster, et al., 2013).
The youth’s internalization of the security of attachment is expected to be imprinted heuristically through interaction with the caregiver, in time becoming relatively resistant to change, showing enduring effects across the lifespan. Through the formation of ...
This webinar was developed by Child Trends in 2015 for the Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) as a technical assistance product for use with OAH grant programs.
Both these ideas were based on the underage consumption of alcohol.docxAASTHA76
Both these ideas were based on the underage consumption of alcohol lading to illegal behavior that is common in the college going students. Attachment theory stands on the concept that human beings have a natural desire and innate requirement of being appreciated and accepted by others. Survey then led to the confirmatory analysis which enforced two-factor of attachment theory, comprising parental affection or attachment and peer attachment, both these types of accessories represent trust, non-estrangement, and communication, Which means that all the adults or youngsters are emotionally attached to their parents or the people of their group (Foster, Vaughan, Foster, & Califano Jr, 2013).
The results manifested the hypotheses that sheltered peer attachment positively concluded behavioral control and values towards alcohol, but protected maternal affection inversely completed behavioral control and values towards alcohol. Alcohol norms, behavioral control and attitudes individually elaborate alcohol objective, which showed an elevation in this behavior within a month. All these findings reinforce recommendations for agenda created to shorten the risk levels of underage drinking using the idea of Attachment theory and Theory of planned behavior TPB.
I. Social Learning Theory:
This research is associated with the methods of getting alcohol in underage, use of substance, underage drinking and this kind of other deviations, this study consider the application of social learning theory. Youngsters under adulthood age are getting alcohol illegally. Past researches show that young alcohol abusers use other persons for this purpose, and these other individuals include any stranger who is adult enough to drink legally (Miller, Levy, Spicer, & Taylor, 2010).
This procedure of getting alcohol is called black marketing. It has been observed that black market organization was made while taking alcohol illegally in association with the other black market organization, other black market anomaly or global anomaly. For study purpose, use of black market sources defined as the utilization of an unknown person trying to obtain illegal substance like alcohol, drugs, etc. thus sources was labeled black market, if the individual participating was an unknown. The materials under consideration in this study include alcohol and marijuana. The study sample was comprised of undergraduate’s students from the organizational pool from a southeastern university.
The questionnaire was filled through the online survey and analyzed statistically by multivariate statistical techniques (Foster, et al., 2013).Youth alcohol consumption includes a lot of research work. This study covers almost all the aspects from divergence related to underage drinking to the hazardous results it causes on health. A huge part of the sample population is the college students. Binge drinking, underage drinking, and general drinking are considered by average or dominant America ...
McDonald 6Name Sonja McDonaldCourse Name ENG 111-2902.docxalfredacavx97
McDonald 6
Name: Sonja McDonald
Course Name: ENG 111-2902
Institution: Fayetteville Technical Community College
Instructor: Professor Stephanie High
Date: 17 July 2019
Child Abuse
Introduction
This research paper will involve the reviewing of the issue of child abuse. Child abuse is an issues that has been happening in the society since the ancient times. However, in the modern world, the categorization and the definition of child abuse has changed. Definition of child abuse will involve the inclusion of the different forms of the abuse, common modes of child abuse and the interventions that can be used for addressing of the issues of child abuse. There are different reasons as to why the research study about child abuse is important in the current world, due to the fact that the gathering of data and information about child abuse will help in the devising of strategies and ways of addressing this crisis. According to reports by different organizations such as World Health Organization(WHO), most of the cases of child abuse can be avoided or even treated. Forms of child abuse such as physical, sexual, neglect and even emotional or psychological abuse can be prevented through understanding them.
Rationale for the selection of the topic of child abuse as a research paper is to pass information to the people about the adverse effects associated with child abuse, interventions which can be used for addressing the issue of child abuse and the possible reasons for the increase in the cases of child abuse in the modern world. Consequently, researching on this topic of child abuse helps in the minimization of cots that would have been incurred fostering care, counselling in the family as well medical care. Rationally, most people still have the mentality and perception that child abuse is characterized by the old definitions of working in farms and factories as well as plantations. However, in the current world, child abuse has been revolutionized as well. Issues of sexual abuse and exploitation, such as trafficking, rape and commercial sex are emerging issues in child abuse. Adverse effects of child abuse are normally evident due to the fact that some aspects of child abuse such as emotional hardly heal (Jud, Andreas, Jörg M. Fegert, and David Finkelhor, 17). Due to the fact that issues of child abuse have been ignored in the society, analysis and research on this issue will help in the addressing and handling of this issue.
Background
Different definitions and forms of child abuse have been suggested by both scholars and researchers. Basically, child abuse or even child maltreatment involves the previously identified forms, that is sexual, emotional, neglect and physical. Most of the countries have been sensitizing on the issue of child abuse, with these four notable forms of child abuse having penalties and custody depending on the seriousness of the case. Different perceptions and ideas have been presented with regard to corporal punishmen.
Adolescence is the most vulnerable period to reproductive health problems.
These problems include early pregnancy, unsafe abortion, sexually
infections transmitted (STIs) including the human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV), sexual abuse. Access for sexuality education and reproductive health
services to comprehensive and youth-friendly was limited. This study aims
to determine the effectiveness of peer educators and guidance and
counselling teachers in adolescent reproductive health level of knowledge.
This is a quantitative study with a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control
group design with treatment groups using peer educators and teacher as
control groups. The sample size was 70 respondents. Data was collected by
questionnaire that already had validity and reliability test. Data analysis used
univariate, t-test and logistic regression. The results of this study showed
that the provision of information was more effective through guidance
conselling teachers (p=0.000, exp B=14.5). This study recommends that
improve adolescents’ reproductive knowledge need to optimize the role of
guidance and counseling teachers in providing information.
1. Christian Monsalud
Professor Jamie McDonald
HSC 421: MoWe 8-9:15AM
April 17, 2013
Health Program Review
Sexual activity among teenagers is one of the major health problems in the United States
today. With the lack of comprehensive sex education programs in schools, children as young as
11-12 years old in the sixth grade are beginning to experiment with sexual intercourse. As a
result, the school-age population is at higher risk for unwanted pregnancies and early exposure to
sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV as well as other risky behaviors including oral and
anal intercourse. Due to the strict implementation of abstinence-only sex education programs at
the school site level, young adolescents have limited knowledge and access to resources that can
protect themselves from these highly preventable disparities. The need for comprehensive sex
education programs is especially crucial for the healthy development of young adolescents as
they reach puberty and are experiencing a manifold of psychological and biological changes.
To delay sexual behavior among teenagers, the goal of the It’s Your Game: Keep It Real
(IYG) program is to decrease the amount of young adolescents engaging in sexual intercourse
before they reach 9th grade. This program also focuses on HIV, STI, and pregnancy prevention
among the youth population. The target population for IYG is middle school students in the 7th
and 8th grade. IYG was first implemented in English-speaking middle schools in the
Southeastern portion of Texas. These students derive from families with low socioeconomic
status and reside in large, urban neighborhoods. A majority of these students are also of African
American and Hispanic descent. This target population was specifically chosen for its
disproportionately high rates of HIV and STIs in these ethnic groups.
Three health behavior theories applied to this intervention include the social cognitive
theory, social influence models, and the theory of triadic influence (Tortolero et al., 2013).
Originated by Albert Bandura, the social cognitive theory aims to change behavior through the
2. 2
evaluation of individual characteristics and environmental factors. According to Positive Action
(2013), the theory of triadic influence is a meta-theoretical framework that observes how three
streams of influence affect the seven causes of behavior change. The three streams of influence
include the effect of the socio-cultural environment on attitudes toward the behavior, the effect
of social context/situations on social normative beliefs, and the effect of intrapersonal factors on
self-efficacy and behavior control. The causes of behavior change include social support and
bonding processes, proximal cognitive predicts of behavior, focus on expectancy-value
formulations, social learning processes, and personality and intrapersonal processes. The theory
of triadic influence also observes how inter-stream effects have direct and indirect effects on
behavior. These inter-stream effects include external factors such as health and drug information,
feelings, empathy, communication skills, self-concept, and conflict resolution. Feedback loops
between these inter-streams and causes of behavior change explain the adoption of new
behaviors and the maintenance of regular behaviors (“Positive Action,” 2013). Examination of
the relationships between these complex webs of influences provides a more comprehensive
understanding of health behavior change. The social influence models also examine how an
individual’s social network affects behavior change through complex communication strategies
and interactions with different subgroups to produce new ways of thinking and attitudes.
IYG’s intervention methodology is unique because it utilizes multi-modal components to
enhance the quality of comprehensive sex education programs and increase additional access to
resources. IYG combines traditional methods of instructional lecture with group-based classroom
activities, computer-based instruction, writing skills, and parent-child interaction. To estimate the
success of the program, the intervention program and a comparison condition which was a
regular health education class were randomly assigned to ten middle schools in Southeast Texas.
3. 3
In the intervention program, twelve lessons were presented to 7th and 8th graders. Each lesson
consisted of a 45 minute traditional lecture presented by a health educator or a trained facilitator.
In addition to each lecture, the other components of the technology-based activities were also
implemented. Group activities involved student interaction to enhance and build social networks
with diverse populations. This allows for each social network to identify their characteristics and
to present their own personal opinions and ideas to promote vicarious learning, reinforcement of
positive behaviors, and reciprocal determinism. Computer-based instruction involved individual
activities on personal laptops. Activities include role playing of different characters in specific
scenarios using virtual reality, quizzes, video animation, examination of electronic fact sheets
and other organized information, peer review of assignments, and online group discussions.
Computer-based technology for individual activities helps develop an individual’s sense of self-
efficacy, behavioral capacity, and self-control when encountering sexual risk-taking scenarios
without experiencing the negative consequences in reality. The students are also assigned with
the task of developing personal journals by using their creative writing skills to express opinions,
feelings, and thoughts about sensitive sexual issues. This method is beneficial in assisting
students with their emotional coping skills associated with behavior change and creating
expectations. Due to the confidentiality of the assignment, the students have the freedom of
expression in contrast to the strict abstinence-only education programs. In this assignment, their
ideas and thoughts are highly valued which is important in psychological development. IYG also
teaches students how to make responsible decisions through a life skills management process
called Select, Detect, Protect. First, they must select behaviors that are considered risky and
dangerous such as sexual intercourse and set personal goals to delay or limit the occurrence of
these behaviors. Next, they must detect factors that would tempt students to engage in this risky
4. 4
behavior and implement various strategies to protect their new behaviors. A final component of
the intervention includes assignments that involve parent-child interaction by discussing topics
such as friendship qualities, dating, and sexual behavior. Parent involvement is essential in
reinforcing positive attitudes as well as enhancing healthy sexual behaviors through vicarious
learning and reciprocal determinism. As a result, students and their parents are able to develop
trust for another. In addition, it also helps parents communicate with their child about sexual
issues which is a very sensitive and often embarrassing topic to discuss. Furthermore, each grade
has a set of sexual health issues that are appropriate for different maturity levels. Examples of
topics discussed at the 7th grade level include healthy friendships, setting personal health goals,
practicing refusal techniques, and information about puberty, reproduction, and STIs. Topics
discussed at the 8th grade level include conditions for healthy dating, highlighting the beneficial
reasons and identifying sources for HIV, STI, and pregnancy testing, developing motor skills for
putting on condoms, and information about contraceptive methods. All in all, IYG utilizes a
variety of educational components to provide a unique and comprehensive learning experience
(Tortolero et al., 2013).
Results of the intervention were evaluated with data acquired through follow-up surveys
from the intervention participants when they reached 9th grade. Overall, the intervention was a
success. According to the study conducted by Tortolero et al. (2013), 30% of the students in the
comparison group who received regular health education classes engaged in sexual intercourse
by 9th grade. On the contrary, 23% of the intervention participants reported sexual activity by the
9th grade. Thus, the intervention group was less likely to engage in sex while the comparison
group was more sexually active. Additionally, there were higher rates of oral, vaginal, and anal
sexual activity in the comparison group compared to the intervention group. African American
5. 5
and Hispanic students in the intervention group were also less likely to engage in sexual
intercourse. The students in the intervention group had more positive attitudes about abstinence,
greater confidence and skill in utilizing the refusal technique and generally greater knowledge
about the benefits of using condoms. In addition, the IYG group had substantially greater
knowledge about HIV and STIs, were able to justify their reasons from abstaining from sex and
had greater intention to remain abstinent throughout high school. As a result, the intervention
group engaged in fewer sexual activities. The IYG intervention is an effective health program
because the current generation of the youth population is moving towards a technology-based
lifestyle. As a result, the students are more engaged in the learning process through hands-on
activities and stimulating visual aids with laptops and computers.
Although IYG is an effective program for teaching teenagers about sexual health, the
program still has barriers and challenges to overcome. First of all, the article studied the results
of this intervention program only in populations with low socioeconomic statuses and
disregarded its effectiveness in the middle and upper class societies. The curriculum of the
intervention program also needs to put more emphasis and focus on specific cultural factors that
determine sexual behaviors. Another challenge is that since this intervention utilizes expensive
computer technology, it might be difficult to implement this program in schools where the
majority of the population has low socioeconomic statuses and funding from the school is
limited. Also, some of the topics discussed in the curriculum might be too controversial in areas
that favor abstinence-only education and controlled by religious groups. Since this intervention is
applied only at the school site level, it could be difficult to influence a behavioral change in
students who drop out of school, are truant, or move around during the middle of the semester.
6. 6
References
Positive Action. (2013). Theory of Triadic Influence. Retrieved from
http://www.positiveaction.net/research/index.asp?ID1=3&ID2=67&ID3=221
Tortolero, S. R., Markham, C. M., Peskin, M. F., Shegog, R., Addy, R. C., Escobar-Chaves, S.
L., & Baumler, E. R. (2010). It's Your Game: Keep It Real: Delaying Sexual Behavior
with an Effective Middle School Program. Journal of Adolescent Health, 46, 169-179.
doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.06.008