Skip to main content
Log in

Brief SAY IT STRAIGHT training and follow-up in adolescent substance abuse prevention

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Primary Prevention Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A shorter version of SAY IT STRAIGHT (SIS) training was investigated during the 1983–84 school year with 1055 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Training was delivered in 7- and 5-day models which were compared with the 10-day model used in 1982–83 with 509 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Both shorter training models yielded significant changes toward more assertive/leveling attitudes (p<.01). Comparisons of 10, 7 and 5 day training models yielded no significant differences in such attitude changes as a function of training length. Alcohol/drug related school suspensions were not found in 1983–84 among 5th graders whether or not they were trained. However, such suspensions were significantly lower among the 1564 6th–9th graders who had received training either in the 1982–83 or the 1983–84 school year compared to the 1295 6th–9th graders who were not trained (p<.05).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bandura, A. (1977).Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Botvin, G.J. & Eng, A. (1982). The efficacy of a multicomponent approach to the prevention of cigarette smoking.Preventive Medicine, 11, 199–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Englander-Golden, P., Elconin, J., & Miller, K.J. (1985). SAY IT STRAIGHT: Adolescent substance abuse prevention training.Academic Psychology Bulletin, 7, 65–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Englander-Golden, P., (1983).SAY IT STRAIGHT: Assertive/leveling refusal behavior and positive peer pressure training. Self-published.

  • Evans, R.I., Hansen, W.B. & Mittelmark, M.B. (1977). Increasing the validity of self-reports of smoking behavior in children.Journal of Applied Psychology, 62, 521–523.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, R.I., Rozelle, R.M., Maxwell, S.E., Raines, B.E., Dill, C.A., & Guthrie, T.J. (1981). Social modeling films to deter smoking in adolescents: Results of a three-year field investigation.Journal of Applied Psychology, 66, 399–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, R.I., Rozelle, R.M., Mittelmark, M.B., Hansen, W.B., Bane, A.L., & Havis, J. (1978). Deterring the onset of smoking in children: Knowledge of immediate physiological effects and coping with peer pressure, media pressure, and parent modeling.Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 8, 126–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feshbach, N.D. (1983). Learning to care: A positive approach to child training and discipline.Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 12, 266–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry, E.B. (1969). A readability graph for librarians, part 1.School Libraries, 19, 13–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horan, J.J. & Williams, J.M. (1982). Longitudinal study of assertion training as a drug abuse prevention strategy.American Educational Research Journal, 19, 341–351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurd, P.D., Johnson, C.A., Pechacek, T., Bast, L.P., Jacobs, D.R., & Luepker, R.V. (1980). Prevention of cigarette smoking in seventh grade students.Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 3, 15–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luepker, R.V., Pechacek, T.F., Murray, D.M., Johnson, C.A., Hurd, F., & Jacobs, D.R. (1981). Saliva thiocyanate: A chemical indication of cigarette smoking in adolescents.American Journal of Public Health, 71, 1320–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAlister, A.L., Perry, C.L., Killen, J., Slinkard, L.A., & Maccoby, N. (1980). Pilot study of smoking, alcohol, and drug abuse prevention.American Journal of Public Health, 70, 719–721.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAlister, A.L., Perry, C.L., & Maccoby, N. (1979). Adolescent smoking: Onset and prevention.Pediatrics, 63(4), 650–658.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGuire, W.J. (1964). Inducing resistance to persuasion: Some contemporary approaches. In L. Berkow (Ed.),Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 1). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, C.L., Killen, J. & Slinkard, L.A. (1980). Peer teaching and smoking prevention among junior high students.Adolescence, 15, 277–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prince, H.T. (1975). The effects of covert behavioral rehearsal, modeling, and vicarious consequences in assertive training. Dissertation, University of Texas at Austin.

  • Satir, V. (1972).Peoplemaking. CA: Science and Behavior Books, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Additional information

Paula Englander-Golden, Ph.D. is at the Department of Human Relations at the University of Oklahoma, 601 Elm, Room 730, Norman, OK 73019.

This research was supported in part by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health, Contract #N200073.

Dr. A.B. Schwarzkopf, University of Oklahoma, Statistical Consulting Laboratory, provided statistical analysis of experimental data.

The authors thank Antoinette Bradley, Claire Germond, Lisa Hammond Denwalt, Julie Hunt, Tom Lancaster and Roxanne Moore for their help in the training of the youngsters.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Englander-Golden, P., Elconin, J., Miller, K.J. et al. Brief SAY IT STRAIGHT training and follow-up in adolescent substance abuse prevention. J Primary Prevent 6, 219–230 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01330263

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01330263

Keywords

Navigation