{"id":{"repo_id":"essex","oai_identifier":"oai:repository.essex.ac.uk:27349"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/essex/oai:repository.essex.ac.uk:27349","repository":{"repo_id":"essex","name":"University of Essex","base_url":"https://repository.essex.ac.uk/cgi/oai2"},"display":{"title":"An evaluation of a school-based intervention to reduce risk behaviour in adolescents","abstract":"Risk-Avert is a school-based programme established by The Training Effect and Essex County Council with the aim of reducing risk behaviour and improving emotional health, resilience and self-efficacy in adolescents. Prior to beginning Risk-Avert adolescents complete the Risk-Avert Screening Tool to assess their vulnerability to and engagement in risk behaviour. This research aimed to a) establish the validity and reliability of the Risk-Avert Screening Tool, and b) add to the evidence-base regarding the programme’s effectiveness. Study one used existing secondary data from completion of the Risk-Avert Screening Tool. Principal components analysis revealed more underlying componentsthan the expected four-componentstructureand low internal reliability. Study two involved year eight students from two schools with no previous involvement with Risk-Avert. Scores for the Risk-Avert Screening Tool were compared to those for other validated risk and wellbeing measures. Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis found that the Risk-Avert Screening Tool was accurate in identifying risk behaviour. Study three was longitudinal and aimed to assess the impact of the Risk-Avert programme by comparing questionnaire scores pre-and post-completion. Although participants in the programme did not demonstrate reduction of risk behaviour between time one and time two, there was also no evidence of an increase. Conversely, non-participants of the programme appeared to increase their level of risk behaviour over the same period. Study four utilised semi-structured interviews with nine staff members who had led the Risk-Avert programme. The interviews concerned the practicalities and impact of Risk-Avert. Analysis identified that interviewees generally felt the programme had positive impacts, but there was variation in how the Risk-Avert programme was implemented. Overall, the Risk-Avert Screening Tool was found to be accurate in identifying risk behaviour and it appeared the Risk-Avert programme may have some preventive effect regarding risk behaviour, as suggested by both quantitative and qualitative findings.","abstract_html":"Risk-Avert is a school-based programme established by The Training Effect and Essex County Council with the aim of reducing risk behaviour and improving emotional health, resilience and self-efficacy in adolescents. Prior to beginning Risk-Avert adolescents complete the Risk-Avert Screening Tool to assess their vulnerability to and engagement in risk behaviour. This research aimed to a) establish the validity and reliability of the Risk-Avert Screening Tool, and b) add to the evidence-base regarding the programme’s effectiveness. Study one used existing secondary data from completion of the Risk-Avert Screening Tool. Principal components analysis revealed more underlying componentsthan the expected four-componentstructureand low internal reliability. Study two involved year eight students from two schools with no previous involvement with Risk-Avert. Scores for the Risk-Avert Screening Tool were compared to those for other validated risk and wellbeing measures. Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis found that the Risk-Avert Screening Tool was accurate in identifying risk behaviour. Study three was longitudinal and aimed to assess the impact of the Risk-Avert programme by comparing questionnaire scores pre-and post-completion. Although participants in the programme did not demonstrate reduction of risk behaviour between time one and time two, there was also no evidence of an increase. Conversely, non-participants of the programme appeared to increase their level of risk behaviour over the same period. Study four utilised semi-structured interviews with nine staff members who had led the Risk-Avert programme. The interviews concerned the practicalities and impact of Risk-Avert. Analysis identified that interviewees generally felt the programme had positive impacts, but there was variation in how the Risk-Avert programme was implemented. Overall, the Risk-Avert Screening Tool was found to be accurate in identifying risk behaviour and it appeared the Risk-Avert programme may have some preventive effect regarding risk behaviour, as suggested by both quantitative and qualitative findings.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Wright, Louise"],"institution":"University of Essex","degree_name":"phd","degree_level":"doctoral","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2020,"date_issued":"2020-04","date_published":"2020-04","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:18:34Z","subjects":["BF Psychology"],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":null,"outbound_label":null,"outbound_source":null},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.sponsor","label":"Sponsor","values":["Essex County Council"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Wright, Louise"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2020-04"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2020-04"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.department","label":"Dc Publisher Department","values":["School of Health and Social Care"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of Essex"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby","values":["https://repository.essex.ac.uk/27349/"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["doctoral"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["phd"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["BF Psychology"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://repository.essex.ac.uk/27349/1/LW%20Thesis%20Final.pdf"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Risk-Avert is a school-based programme established by The Training Effect and Essex County Council with the aim of reducing risk behaviour and improving emotional health, resilience and self-efficacy in adolescents. Prior to beginning Risk-Avert adolescents complete the Risk-Avert Screening Tool to assess their vulnerability to and engagement in risk behaviour. This research aimed to a) establish the validity and reliability of the Risk-Avert Screening Tool, and b) add to the evidence-base regarding the programme’s effectiveness. Study one used existing secondary data from completion of the Risk-Avert Screening Tool. Principal components analysis revealed more underlying componentsthan the expected four-componentstructureand low internal reliability. Study two involved year eight students from two schools with no previous involvement with Risk-Avert. Scores for the Risk-Avert Screening Tool were compared to those for other validated risk and wellbeing measures. Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis found that the Risk-Avert Screening Tool was accurate in identifying risk behaviour. Study three was longitudinal and aimed to assess the impact of the Risk-Avert programme by comparing questionnaire scores pre-and post-completion. Although participants in the programme did not demonstrate reduction of risk behaviour between time one and time two, there was also no evidence of an increase. Conversely, non-participants of the programme appeared to increase their level of risk behaviour over the same period. Study four utilised semi-structured interviews with nine staff members who had led the Risk-Avert programme. The interviews concerned the practicalities and impact of Risk-Avert. Analysis identified that interviewees generally felt the programme had positive impacts, but there was variation in how the Risk-Avert programme was implemented. Overall, the Risk-Avert Screening Tool was found to be accurate in identifying risk behaviour and it appeared the Risk-Avert programme may have some preventive effect regarding risk behaviour, as suggested by both quantitative and qualitative findings."]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["text"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["An evaluation of a school-based intervention to reduce risk behaviour in adolescents"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.sponsor":["Essex County Council"],"dc:creator":["Wright, Louise"],"dc:date":["2020-04"],"dc:date.issued":["2020-04"],"dc:description.abstract":["Risk-Avert is a school-based programme established by The Training Effect and Essex County Council with the aim of reducing risk behaviour and improving emotional health, resilience and self-efficacy in adolescents. Prior to beginning Risk-Avert adolescents complete the Risk-Avert Screening Tool to assess their vulnerability to and engagement in risk behaviour. This research aimed to a) establish the validity and reliability of the Risk-Avert Screening Tool, and b) add to the evidence-base regarding the programme’s effectiveness. Study one used existing secondary data from completion of the Risk-Avert Screening Tool. Principal components analysis revealed more underlying componentsthan the expected four-componentstructureand low internal reliability. Study two involved year eight students from two schools with no previous involvement with Risk-Avert. Scores for the Risk-Avert Screening Tool were compared to those for other validated risk and wellbeing measures. Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis found that the Risk-Avert Screening Tool was accurate in identifying risk behaviour. Study three was longitudinal and aimed to assess the impact of the Risk-Avert programme by comparing questionnaire scores pre-and post-completion. Although participants in the programme did not demonstrate reduction of risk behaviour between time one and time two, there was also no evidence of an increase. Conversely, non-participants of the programme appeared to increase their level of risk behaviour over the same period. Study four utilised semi-structured interviews with nine staff members who had led the Risk-Avert programme. The interviews concerned the practicalities and impact of Risk-Avert. Analysis identified that interviewees generally felt the programme had positive impacts, but there was variation in how the Risk-Avert programme was implemented. 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