Reducing Youth Risk Behaviors Through Interactive Theater Intervention

• Main Authors: Ryan J. Watson, Daniel A. McDonald, Ruth Carter, Joseph M. Russo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mississippi State University 2016-02-01
• Series: Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
• Subjects: adolescence; decision-making; intervention; theater
• Online Access: http://media.wix.com/ugd/c8fe6e_4c94552ab3d34ad48ed44888d5d94e14.pdf

The reduction of risk behaviors in secondary schools is a key concern for parents, teachers, and school administrators. School is one of the primary contexts of socialization for young people; thus, the investment in school-based programs to reduce risk behaviors is essential. In this study, we report on youth who participated in an intervention designed to improve decision-making skills based on positive youth development approaches. We examine changes in decision-making skills before and after involvement in the Teen Interactive Theater Education (TITE) program and retrospective self-assessment of change in knowledge, abilities, and beliefs as a result of participating in TITE (n = 127). Youth that reported increases in knowledge, abilities, and beliefs due to the intervention (n = 89) were more likely to think about the consequences of their decisions and list options before making a decision compared to their counterparts that reported less overall learning (n = 38). Implications for intervention research and stakeholders are discussed.