Evaluation of a theater-based youth violence prevention program for elementary school children

The present study evaluated the impact of Urban Improv (UI), a theater-based youth violence prevention (YVP) program developed for inner-city youth, on three behavioral and psychological outcome domains: aggressive behaviors, prosocial behaviors, and scholastic attention and engagement. This study compared outcomes for 77 elementary school students in classrooms designated to receive UI with those of 63 students from matched control classrooms. Findings revealed that students who received UI were superior to matched controls on all outcome domains. Findings support UI as a promising practice for YVP with urban elementary school students and suggest that greater attention should be focused on application of theater-based programs in YVP.
Author: 
Kisiel,Cassandra
Blaustein,Margaret
Spinazzola,Joseph
Schmidt,Caren Swift
Zucker,Marla
van der Kolk,Bessel
Reprint Status: 
IN FILE
Start Page: 
19
End Page: 
36
Journal/Periodical Name: 
Journal of School Violence
Volume: 
5
Issue: 
2
Reference Type: 
JOUR
Reference ID: 
577
Publication Date: 
2006/06/12