Evaluation of Project Chrysalis A School-Based Intervention to Reduce Negative Consequences of Abuse

• Published in: The Journal of early adolescence Vol. 21; no. 3; pp. 325 - 353
• Main Authors: Brown, Kelly J., Block, Audrey J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA Sage Publications 01-08-2001; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adolescent Attitudes; Adolescent Behavior; Adolescents; Age Differences; Aggression; Antisocial Behavior; Assertiveness; At Risk Persons; Caseworker Approach; Child Abuse; Child abuse & neglect; Community Relations; Community Resources; Control Groups; Coping; Developmental Stages; Diagnostic Teaching; Drinking; Drug abuse; Drug prevention; Drug Use; Early Identification; Eating Disorders; Emotional Abuse; Emotional Problems; Empowerment; Females; Girls; Grade 9; High Schools; Marijuana; Mental depression; Narcotics; Needs Assessment; Negative Attitudes; Opportunities; Portland School District OR; Preadolescents; Prevention; Program Effectiveness; Risk; Risk Reduction; Risk Taking Behavior; School Activities; School Involvement; Schools; Sexual Abuse; Substance Abuse; Suicide; Suicides & suicide attempts; Teenagers; Tobacco
• ISSN: 0272-4316; 1552-5449
• DOI: 10.1177/0272431601021003004

Project Chrysalis was a school-based program that provided services to female adolescents with histories of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Young women (14-17 years of age) were enrolled and assigned randomly either to a program or to a control condition. It was found that participation in Project Chrysalis was associated with outcomes such as healthier beliefs and attitudes about alcohol and other drug use and reduced initiation of tobacco and marijuana use. Participants also had fewer suicidal ideations and behaviors. It was shown that older participants (16 and 17 years of age) were less likely to attend Project Chrysalis activities than were younger participants and that the prevalence of depression and risk for suicide was higher among younger participants. That indicates that enrolling younger participants (11 through 14 years of age), before negative attitudes and behaviors have begun, might produce stronger positive effects.