Prevention of Problem Behaviours among Adolescents: The Impact of the Communities that Care Strategy in the Netherlands (2008–2011)

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Jonkman, Harrie^{a; *} | Aussems, Claire^a | Steketee, Majone^a | Boutellier, Hans^a | Cuijpers, Pim^b

Affiliations: [a] Verwey-Jonker Institute, Utrecht, NL | [b] Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, NL

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Harrie Jonkman, Ph.D, Senior at Verwey-Jonker Institute, Kromme Nieuwegracht 6, 3512 HG, Utrecht, Netherlands. [email protected]

Abstract: This study examines whether the Communities That Care (CTC) prevention system influences targeted risk and protective factors and the subsequent development of problem behaviour among adolescents (12–18 years) in the Netherlands. In this quasi-experimental study of ten communities (five experimental, five control), adolescent outcomes were examined using a longitudinal design. Propensity score methodology and multilevel modelling were used to test the effects. No impact of CTC could be detected on the development of a broader range of behaviours, or on the initiation of drinking and smoking. These results differ from earlier experimental studies and could be attributed to the threats to internal validity and design limitations of this community study. It is important to identify, monitor, address and report threats to internal validity when conducting effectiveness trials.

Keywords: Community intervention, prevention, problem behaviours, risk and protective factors, impact research

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-13121

Journal: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 37-52, 2015