Evaluation of the all stars character education and problem behavior prevention program: Effects on mediator and outcome variables for middle school students

The effects of All Stars, a character education and problem behavior preven tion program, on variables theorized to mediate problem behaviors and on th e problem behavior variables of substance use, sexual behavior, and violenc e among middle school students are reported. In an independent, randomized, single-cohort, longitudinal evaluation of the program, 1,655 students comp leted pretest, posttest, and 1-year follow-up surveys measuring demographic s, mediating variables, and behavioral outcome variables. Results indicate that the All Stars program, when administered by teachers, had an immediate effect on mediating variables that did not persist overtime. Inclusion of ethnicity in the design showed that the program, when administered by speci alists, had delayed effects on mediating variables for African American and Hispanic students. However, no consistent effects were found for student p roblem behaviors in either condition. Implications for prevention practice and directions for future research are discussed.