Introduction: Truancy negatively affects almost every aspect in life, including: physical, mental health, social and economical conditions. WE-STAY (Working in Europe to Stop Truancy Among Youth) is a prevention program designed to reduce truancy and to promote mental health among European adolescents. Objectives: to evaluate the effectiveness of awareness program in the prevention of truancy. The awareness intervention will be dedicated to increasing consciousness about psychological factors associated to truancy. Aims: the major aim of WE-STAY project is to reduce truancy among European adolescents. Methods: the WE- STAY intervention carried out in 5 European countries In each country, a sample of 1600 pupils ages 14-18 will be randomized into one of four different intervention arms. Baseline evaluation of students’ lifestyle, coping styles, at-risk truancy, self-harm behaviours and mental health issues will be collected using a structured questionnaire. Results: the recruitment of schools and students is in progress. In the Molise region there are 58 schools, 15 vocational schools and 43 high schools, for a total of 15393 students. After the randomization, were selected 32 schools, 6 vocational schools and 26 high schools, for a total of 9.489 students, 4.166 males and 5.323 females. Conclusions: Truancy is often related to mental health problems and at-risk behaviours. Through the implementation of WE-STAY is possible to evaluate outcomes of different preventive programs and to recommend effective culturally adjusted models for preventing truancy and promoting mental health of adolescents.
Awareness method in Truancy Prevention Programs: WE-STAY project
D’Aulerio M;Carli V;Iosue M;Basilico F;Recchia L;Wasserman C;Sarchiapone M;
2012-01-01
Abstract
Introduction: Truancy negatively affects almost every aspect in life, including: physical, mental health, social and economical conditions. WE-STAY (Working in Europe to Stop Truancy Among Youth) is a prevention program designed to reduce truancy and to promote mental health among European adolescents. Objectives: to evaluate the effectiveness of awareness program in the prevention of truancy. The awareness intervention will be dedicated to increasing consciousness about psychological factors associated to truancy. Aims: the major aim of WE-STAY project is to reduce truancy among European adolescents. Methods: the WE- STAY intervention carried out in 5 European countries In each country, a sample of 1600 pupils ages 14-18 will be randomized into one of four different intervention arms. Baseline evaluation of students’ lifestyle, coping styles, at-risk truancy, self-harm behaviours and mental health issues will be collected using a structured questionnaire. Results: the recruitment of schools and students is in progress. In the Molise region there are 58 schools, 15 vocational schools and 43 high schools, for a total of 15393 students. After the randomization, were selected 32 schools, 6 vocational schools and 26 high schools, for a total of 9.489 students, 4.166 males and 5.323 females. Conclusions: Truancy is often related to mental health problems and at-risk behaviours. Through the implementation of WE-STAY is possible to evaluate outcomes of different preventive programs and to recommend effective culturally adjusted models for preventing truancy and promoting mental health of adolescents.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
