Culturally congruent mentorship can reduce disruptive behavior among elementary school students: results from a pilot study
Abstract Background Our study objective was to examine the feasibility of implementing a culturally congruent mentorship pilot program, Youth-First (YF), that targets behavior modification among elementary school-aged children with disruptive behavior and a history of school suspension. We hypothesi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BioMed Central
2018-09-01
|
| Series: | Pilot and Feasibility Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40814-018-0339-8 |
| id |
doaj-art-229d86cadac547f9a79f85b546cbbfdd |
|---|---|
| recordtype |
oai_dc |
| spelling |
doaj-art-229d86cadac547f9a79f85b546cbbfdd2018-09-16T11:21:35ZengBioMed CentralPilot and Feasibility Studies2055-57842018-09-01411810.1186/s40814-018-0339-8Culturally congruent mentorship can reduce disruptive behavior among elementary school students: results from a pilot studyArthur H. Owora0Najah Salaam1Sydney H. Russell Leed2Dessa Bergen-Cico3Timothy Jennings-Bey4Arnett Haygood El5Robert A. Rubinstein6Sandra D. Lane7Department of Public Health, Falk College, Syracuse UniversityStreet Addiction Inc.Upstate Medical UniversityDepartment of Public Health, Falk College, Syracuse UniversityStreet Addiction Inc.Street Addiction Inc.Maxwell School, Syracuse UniversityDepartment of Public Health, Falk College, Syracuse UniversityAbstract Background Our study objective was to examine the feasibility of implementing a culturally congruent mentorship pilot program, Youth-First (YF), that targets behavior modification among elementary school-aged children with disruptive behavior and a history of school suspension. We hypothesize that it is feasible to implement the YF program to reduce disruptive behaviors and recidivism of level III/IV infractions in school settings among at-risk African American students. Methods We assessed program feasibility based on the success of program acceptance by parents/guardians, study enrollment, and intervention compliance by students. A pre/posttest study design was used to examine whether the YF program reduced recidivism of disruptive behavior among enrolled at-risk African American elementary school children between September 2016 and January 2017. Generalized linear mixed models examined whether student behavioral scores improved over time and varied by program mentor. A McNemar test examined the reduction in cumulative incidence of level III/IV infractions pre-post YF program intervention. Results Intervention acceptance, enrollment, and compliance were 100% (95% confidence interval [CI] 86 to 100%), 100% (95% CI 86 to 100%), and 67% (95% CI 45 to 84%), respectively (N = 24). Overall, student behavioral scores improved and plateaued over time (Time2 effect: b = − 0.01, 95% CI − 0.02, < 0.01); a two-week period was associated with a seven-point improvement (effect size: Cohen’s d = 0.47, 95% CI 0.03, 0.94) in behavioral scores. Behavioral score improvements were class-specific, based on respectfulness behavior (b = 0.11, 95% CI < 0.01, 0.26). No recidivism of level III/IV infractions was reported during and post YF intervention. Conclusion The integration of culturally congruent mentorship in elementary school-settings is feasible and can reduce risk of disruptive behaviors among at-risk African American students. Future studies should use randomized clinical trials to determine the effectiveness of culturally congruent mentorship interventions (void of potential selection and confounding biases) in reducing disruptive behavior, level III/IV infractions, and school suspensions among at-risk children.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40814-018-0339-8Culturally congruentMentorshipElementary schoolSchool violenceDisruptive behavior |
| institution |
Open Data Bank |
| collection |
Open Access Journals |
| building |
Directory of Open Access Journals |
| language |
English |
| format |
Article |
| author |
Arthur H. Owora Najah Salaam Sydney H. Russell Leed Dessa Bergen-Cico Timothy Jennings-Bey Arnett Haygood El Robert A. Rubinstein Sandra D. Lane |
| spellingShingle |
Arthur H. Owora Najah Salaam Sydney H. Russell Leed Dessa Bergen-Cico Timothy Jennings-Bey Arnett Haygood El Robert A. Rubinstein Sandra D. Lane Culturally congruent mentorship can reduce disruptive behavior among elementary school students: results from a pilot study Pilot and Feasibility Studies Culturally congruent Mentorship Elementary school School violence Disruptive behavior |
| author_facet |
Arthur H. Owora Najah Salaam Sydney H. Russell Leed Dessa Bergen-Cico Timothy Jennings-Bey Arnett Haygood El Robert A. Rubinstein Sandra D. Lane |
| author_sort |
Arthur H. Owora |
| title |
Culturally congruent mentorship can reduce disruptive behavior among elementary school students: results from a pilot study |
| title_short |
Culturally congruent mentorship can reduce disruptive behavior among elementary school students: results from a pilot study |
| title_full |
Culturally congruent mentorship can reduce disruptive behavior among elementary school students: results from a pilot study |
| title_fullStr |
Culturally congruent mentorship can reduce disruptive behavior among elementary school students: results from a pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Culturally congruent mentorship can reduce disruptive behavior among elementary school students: results from a pilot study |
| title_sort |
culturally congruent mentorship can reduce disruptive behavior among elementary school students: results from a pilot study |
| publisher |
BioMed Central |
| series |
Pilot and Feasibility Studies |
| issn |
2055-5784 |
| publishDate |
2018-09-01 |
| description |
Abstract Background Our study objective was to examine the feasibility of implementing a culturally congruent mentorship pilot program, Youth-First (YF), that targets behavior modification among elementary school-aged children with disruptive behavior and a history of school suspension. We hypothesize that it is feasible to implement the YF program to reduce disruptive behaviors and recidivism of level III/IV infractions in school settings among at-risk African American students. Methods We assessed program feasibility based on the success of program acceptance by parents/guardians, study enrollment, and intervention compliance by students. A pre/posttest study design was used to examine whether the YF program reduced recidivism of disruptive behavior among enrolled at-risk African American elementary school children between September 2016 and January 2017. Generalized linear mixed models examined whether student behavioral scores improved over time and varied by program mentor. A McNemar test examined the reduction in cumulative incidence of level III/IV infractions pre-post YF program intervention. Results Intervention acceptance, enrollment, and compliance were 100% (95% confidence interval [CI] 86 to 100%), 100% (95% CI 86 to 100%), and 67% (95% CI 45 to 84%), respectively (N = 24). Overall, student behavioral scores improved and plateaued over time (Time2 effect: b = − 0.01, 95% CI − 0.02, < 0.01); a two-week period was associated with a seven-point improvement (effect size: Cohen’s d = 0.47, 95% CI 0.03, 0.94) in behavioral scores. Behavioral score improvements were class-specific, based on respectfulness behavior (b = 0.11, 95% CI < 0.01, 0.26). No recidivism of level III/IV infractions was reported during and post YF intervention. Conclusion The integration of culturally congruent mentorship in elementary school-settings is feasible and can reduce risk of disruptive behaviors among at-risk African American students. Future studies should use randomized clinical trials to determine the effectiveness of culturally congruent mentorship interventions (void of potential selection and confounding biases) in reducing disruptive behavior, level III/IV infractions, and school suspensions among at-risk children. |
| topic |
Culturally congruent Mentorship Elementary school School violence Disruptive behavior |
| url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40814-018-0339-8 |
| _version_ |
1612573571016556544 |