@article{ref1,
title="Randomized control trial of a school-based curriculum that teaches about multiple forms of abuse",
journal="Child maltreatment",
year="2023",
author="Bright, Melissa A. and Huq, Mona Sayedul and Miller, M. David and Patel, Shivam and Li, Ziying and Finkelhor, David",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="Most school-based prevention curricula for young children fail to address multiple types of abuse and limit instruction to a single day, despite evidence that polyvictimization is common and children learn better when allowed to practice material repeatedly. This study utilized a cluster randomized control trial design to evaluate a multi-abuse prevention program, the Monique Burr Foundation for Children (MBF) Child Safety Matters®, based on varying lesson structure. Participants included nine Florida schools consisting of 843 children in grades K-2. Schools were randomized within cluster to implement in two lessons, four lessons, or after study data collection (i.e., control group). Lessons averaged 34 minutes (SD = 8.8 minutes) in length for 2-lesson group and 23.6 minutes (SD = 6.9 minutes) for the 4-lesson condition. Knowledge was assessed before implementation and on average 11 weeks after implementation. There were no statistical differences between clusters. Controlling for pre-test scores, schools in the four-lesson group scored highest on a measure of knowledge of potentially risky and unsafe situations (M = 69.68, SE =.80) on post-test, followed by schools in the two-lesson group (M = 67.31, SE =.77), followed by schools in the control group (M = 62.92, SE =.76). <br><br>RESULTS support use of more frequent, shorter lessons for prevention programs and the promise of addressing multiple forms of child victimization.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1077-5595",
doi="10.1177/10775595231152623",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10775595231152623"
}