Journal of School Violence · 2006 · 48 citations · 35 references
EducationEducational PsychologyElementary EducationAdolescent HealthApplied TheatreViolence PreventionChild Behavior InterventionEducational DramaPlay-based InterventionTheatre In EducationYouth Violence PreventionAttentionImprov PedagogyPsychological Outcome AssessmentSchool-based Behavior InterventionYouth Theatre In SchoolsYouth Victimization PreventionYouth Violence InterventionYouth Violence Reduction
Abstract 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.
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