A group-randomized evaluation of a theatre-based sexual abuse prevention programme for primary school children in Germany

Barbara Krahé*, Lena Knappert

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The study reports a group-randomized trial of a theatre-based intervention to prevent sexual abuse targeting first and second grade primary school children in Germany. A sample of 148 first and second graders saw a live performance of a play designed to promote skills in dealing with abuse-prone interactions with adults, watched a recording of the play on DVD or were assigned to a no intervention control group. Both the live performance and the DVD groups showed significant increases in the target variables (distinguishing good/bad touch and secrets, getting help, rejecting unwanted touch) from baseline to post-intervention and a follow-up after 2 weeks, while the control group did not show changes. The live performance and DVD groups participated in a further follow-up 30 weeks post-intervention, which showed sustained effects of the intervention. The findings indicate that with appropriately culture-sensitive measures, sexual abuse prevention programmes can have sustainable effects with young primary school children.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)321-329
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Community and Applied Social Psychology
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Child sexual abuse
  • Evaluation
  • Prevention
  • Primary school children
  • Theatre play

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