NCJ Number
180005
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 23 Issue: 12 Dated: December 1999 Pages: 1307-1325
Date Published
1999
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This article evaluates the effectiveness of a program to train 7- and 10-year-old Irish children in personal safety skills.
Abstract
The study also attempted to evaluate the program's impact on children's self-esteem and parents' and teachers' knowledge and attitudes of relevance to child abuse and protection. Changes in safety knowledge and skills and self-esteem of 339 children who participated in the Stay Safe Program were compared with those of 388 waiting-list controls. Children in the training group were also followed up at 3 months. Trained children showed significant improvements in safety knowledge and skills and these gains were maintained at follow-up. The greatest gains were made by 7-year-olds. Children with a higher socioeconomic status benefited more from the program than less privileged children. Both parents and teachers showed significant improvements in knowledge and attitudes concerning protection over the course of the program and for teachers, these gains were maintained at follow-up. Tables, figures, references