Effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of Project P.A.T.H.S. : objective outcome evaluation based on a randomized group trial

Abstract

There are two tiers of programs in the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programs). In the Tier 1 Program, teaching units based on different positive youth development constructs are covered. A total of 24 experimental schools (N = 4,121 students) and 24 control schools (N = 3,854 students) were randomly selected to participate in a randomized group trial. Analyses of covariance and linear mixed models controlling for differences between the two groups in terms of pretest scores, personal variables, and random effects of schools showed that participants in the experimental schools had significantly higher positive youth development levels than did participants in the control schools at post-test based on different indicators derived from the Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale. In conjunction with other evaluation findings reported previously, the present study suggests that the Tier 1 Program of P.A.T.H.S. promotes the positive development of Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong.