Kuperminc Gabriel P, Thomason Jessica, DiMeo Michelle, Broomfield-Massey Kimberley
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
J Prim Prev. 2011 Aug;32(3-4):171-83. doi: 10.1007/s10935-011-0243-y.
The past two decades have seen a transformation in youth programming toward a comprehensive positive youth development (YD) framework. Cool Girls, Inc., a YD program, focuses on improving girls' life chances by promoting positive behaviors and attitudes in multiple domains. These include self-concept, academic orientation, future orientation, and healthy behaviors. The present study uses a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent comparison group design to examine short-term effects of participation in Cool Girls, Inc. on multiple indicators of each of these domains. Participants were predominately African American and included 86 program participants and 89 comparisons in grades 4-8. Self-report questionnaires were administered at pretest (September-October) and posttest (April-May) of the 2005-2006 academic school year. We hypothesized that program participants would show improvements across domains of self-concept, academic orientation, future orientation, and healthy behavior. Relative to comparisons, program participants experienced gains in scholastic competence, hope for the future, and physical activity. Cool Girls participants with a mentor experienced significant gains in social acceptance and body image relative to other Cool Girls and were more than four times as likely to have expectations of avoiding drug use in the future. The role of mentoring as well as the study's practical significance, strengths, and limitations are discussed.
在过去二十年里，青少年项目已朝着全面的积极青少年发展（YD）框架转变。“酷女孩”组织是一个积极青少年发展项目，致力于通过在多个领域促进积极行为和态度来改善女孩的生活机遇。这些领域包括自我概念、学业导向、未来导向和健康行为。本研究采用准实验性的非等效对照组设计，来考察参与“酷女孩”组织对这些领域中各项指标的短期影响。参与者主要是非洲裔美国人，包括86名项目参与者和89名四至八年级的对照组学生。在2005 - 2006学年的预测试（9月至10月）和后测试（4月至5月）时，发放了自我报告问卷。我们假设项目参与者在自我概念、学业导向、未来导向和健康行为等领域会有所改善。与对照组相比，项目参与者在学业能力、对未来的期望和体育活动方面有所收获。有导师指导的“酷女孩”参与者在社会接纳度和身体形象方面相对于其他“酷女孩”有显著提升，并且未来避免使用毒品的期望可能性是其他“酷女孩”的四倍多。本文还讨论了导师指导的作用以及该研究的实际意义、优势和局限性。
