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PY/PM: Published Studies

Studies on Adult-Led PY/PM:

Evaluations of the Adult-Led implementation model of Protecting You/Protecting Me have shown that the program has positive effects on the elementary students who receive the lessons.  PY/PM is one of the first alcohol prevention programs targeting children that incorporates emerging research on the adverse effects of alcohol on the developing brain.  Results of a study of fifth grade students, some of whom were exposed to five consecutive years of PY/PM, indicate that, relative to comparison students from matched schools, PY/PM students increased their knowledge of the effects of alcohol on the developing brain, their perception of the potential harm of alcohol use, and their vehicle safety skills.  PY/PM students also exhibited increased negative attitudes toward underage drinking, increased their intentions not to use alcohol, and report decreased riding with an impaired driver.  Path modeling revealed that knowledge of the effects of alcohol on the developing brain had both a direct and an indirect effect on alcohol use, the latter by increasing perception of the harm of underage alcohol use which, in turn affected intentions to use and use itself (Padgett, Bell, Shamblen, Ringwalt, in press).

Evaluations have also shown that the more years students have PY/PM, the more knowledge and skills they gain. Fourth- and fifth-grade students from schools in the fourth year of PY/PM implementation were surveyed in a second study. Results indicate that, relative to comparison students from matched schools, PY/PM students increased their knowledge of alcohol’s effect on development; gained decision making, stress management, and vehicle safety skills; and demonstrated changes in attitudes toward underage alcohol use and its harm. Furthermore, students retained lessons learned in previous years and their scores improved with increased exposure to PY/PM. This study demonstrates that it is possible to design and implement a program that can significantly improve young children’s knowledge regarding alcohol and their developing brains, teach them skills to protect themselves in dangerous situations, increase already high anti-alcohol attitudes, and change perceptions of alcohol’s harmfulness. (Bell, Padget, Kelly-Baker & Rider, in press)

PY/PM is also one of the first alcohol prevention programs to target children as early as first grade. We conducted a study that focused on the youngest students receiving PY/PM, the first and second graders, who were surveyed over a three-year period. Results indicate that, relative to comparison students from matched classes, PY/PM students increased their knowledge of vehicle safety, media awareness, growth and development, and dangers of alcohol to young persons. This study demonstrates that despite the inherent difficulties of surveying very young children, these children can benefit from an alcohol prevention program that is carefully designed, implemented, and evaluated. (Bell, Kelly-Baker, & Ringwalt, 2005)


References

Bell, M.L., Bliss, K. & Padget, A.(2005). The experience of MADD’s Protecting You/Protecting Me: Using evaluation to enhance program development. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Washington. D.C.
http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/media/prevline/pdfs/csap4p40_Protecting_Sept21_TWO.pdf

Bell, M.L., Kelly-Baker, T., & Ringwalt, C. (2005). Protecting You/Protecting Me: The Effects of Multiple-Year Exposure to an Alcohol Prevention and Vehicle Safety Program for Elementary Students. Journal of School Health, 75 (3) 171-177. (PDF doc)

Bell, M.L., Padget, A., Kelly-Baker, T., Rider, R. (2006). Can First and Second Grade students benefit from an alcohol prevention program? Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse. 16(3).

Padgett, A., Bell, M.L., Shamblen, S. & Ringwalt, C. (2006). Does learning about the effects of alcohol on the developing brain affect children’s alcohol use?  Prevention Science. 7(3). (PDF.doc)