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Effects of Awareness Programs on Juvenile Delinquency: A Three-Level Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Juvenile awareness programs, such as Scared Straight, remain in use despite the finding that these programs provoke rather than prevent delinquency. The aim of this study was to examine what program components are associated with program effectiveness, which is important for improving these programs. A three-level meta-analysis was conducted. A literature search yielded 13 independent studies ( N = 1,536) from which 88 effect sizes could be extracted. A nonsignificant overall effect was found ( d = 0.10), indicating that juvenile awareness programs have no effect on offending behavior and other outcomes that are related to delinquency. No significant moderator effects were found for program components. The moderator analyses revealed that juvenile awareness programs are effective in reducing antisocial attitudes ( d = 0.46), which has not been meta-analytically studied before. Furthermore, larger effects were found as follow-up length increased. These results show a more nuanced view on the effectiveness of juvenile awareness programs is necessary.
... Thus, considering the possible changes in people's media multitasking behavior in the past two decades, the effect of media multitasking on individuals may vary with time (Parry & le Roux, 2021;Rogobete et al., 2020). Therefore, consistent with previous three-level meta-analyses, publication year was included as a moderator variable in the present meta-analysis Mao et al., 2022;van der Put et al., 2020). ...
... Consistent with previous meta-analyses, the most appropriate outcome metric selected was the one most relevant to the task or most frequently used in previous studies (Mauger et al., 2018;Schoemaker et al., 2013;Spaniol & Danielsson, 2022). Additionally, for self-reported scales, if the outcomes of the scales can be matched to a specific component of cognitive control, they can be considered as an assessment; otherwise, they were excluded (Parry & le Roux, 2021;Uncapher & Wagner, 2018); (7) clearly specified the outcome measure (e.g., reaction time, accuracy, error rate, sensitivity; le Roux & Parry, 2019; Rabi et al., 2020;van der Put et al., 2020). If the same data was applied repeatedly to both journal papers and dissertations, only the journal papers were included. ...
... We employed the effect size Cohen's d in the present study for each outcome measured, estimating the standardized mean difference between heavy (HMMs) and light (LMMs) media multitasking groups. On this condition where the outcome variable was continuous, Cohen's d was directly calculated and compared between two groups of participants, using reported z values and p values per group or means and standard deviations (van der Put et al., 2020). In other cases, we transformed the available relevant statistics, such as correlation coefficients, to effect size using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software or conventional formulas of Ferguson, (1966), Lipsey & Wilson, (2001), and Rosenthal, (1994) (van der Put et al., 2020). ...
Media multitasking is an ever-increasing phenomenon whereby different forms of media are used simultaneously. Numerous studies have shown that media multitasking is closely related to an individual’s cognitive control abilities. However, existing evidence remains controversial, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Therefore, to increase the understanding of whether and how frequent media multitasking is associated with cognitive control, a three-level meta-analysis, which included 43 studies and 118 effect sizes, was performed to acquire overall differences between heavy and light media multitaskers and to explore potential moderators that may account for the heterogeneity. The results showed a moderate mean negative association between media multitasking and cognitive control, and this association was moderated by the type of cognitive control. Specifically, heavy media multitaskers showed worse inhibitory control and working memory than light media multitaskers, but there was no significant difference in cognitive flexibility. Moreover, the effect was moderated by the measurement type of the dependent variable. The results of this study enhance our understanding of this issue and pave the way for a more nuanced view of altering experimental designs to investigate cognitive control in educational settings.
... It remains uncertain whether a well-informed community can better resist criminal influences and contribute to maritime (restorative) justice, or if MSP interventions effectively reduce community involvement in criminal activities. Serious concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of such interventions, suggesting they may even have counterproductive effects (Albarracín et al., 2024;Boertien et al., 2024;Hendrik & Stams, 2024;Nelen et al., 2023;van der Put et al., 2021;Van Petrosino et al., 2013). ...
The Netherlands hosts a significant drug industry involving global crime groups targeting local professionals, such as fishers for drug smuggling, real estate agents for money laundering, and harbor masters for marina access. To raise awareness of potential criminal involvement, various government organizations collaborate within an Organized Crime Field Lab. This approach shifts the focus from repressively apprehending criminals to protecting legal businesses and professionals by enabling the public to inform, detect, and report smuggling activities, and by helping relevant sectors identify and regulate activities that facilitate organized crime. This article examines how maritime policing professionals experience the process, outcomes, and challenges within the Maritime Smuggling Project (MSP) and its contribution to building a more resilient society against criminal involvement. Based on 34 interviews, hybrid observations, and an online questionnaire with MSP participants, the study suggests that maritime criminal justice relies on the idea that a resilient community is less likely to engage in or facilitate criminal maritime activities. However, it also indicates that collaboration in itself is not enough to create an impact on policing. Findings reveal that innovations in criminal justice need open‐ended, long‐term, impact‐focused responses from projects like the MSP, along with maritime professionals willing to adopt new policing methods. Yet, traditional, path‐dependent criminal justice institutions often undermine these innovations by prioritizing immediate, measurable, short‐term results that benefit their organization instead of the overarching goal of preventing maritime crime and societal involvement in it. As a result, even those tasked with developing innovative approaches are limited by institutional constraints and ingrained habits.
... Hawkins, J. D. et al. constructed a model of juvenile delinquent behavior with social control theory and social learning theory, showing that the socialization units of family, school, peers, and community have a decreasing ability to influence juvenile delinquent behavior and that the social relationships generated through interactions can constrain the emergence of delinquent behaviors, thus achieving crime prevention [19]. Van der Put, C. E. et al. examined the association between adolescent awareness programs and delinquent behavior using a three-level meta-analytic approach to search and analyze the literature, which showed that adolescent awareness programs did not affect delinquent behavior and other delinquency-related Applying Decision Analysis and System Dynamics Community Governance in the Evaluation of Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Strategies 3 outcomes, but that they were effective in reducing antisocial attitudes [20]. Mathys, C. proposes therapeutic interventions to change delinquent youth, discusses remedies for juvenile delinquent behavior with strategies for developing a juvenile justice system, and develops a theoretical framework modeling the correction of delinquent behavior, culminating in a theoretical and empirical foundation for justice facility treatment [21]. ...
From the perspective of juvenile delinquency prevention theory, this paper explores the current situation of juvenile delinquency in rural areas of W County and the mechanism of relevant functional departments in local community governance based on the questionnaire survey method. Then, six juvenile delinquency prevention service programs are selected as the object of evaluation research, and the intelligent decision analysis system of system dynamics is used as the tool of evaluation research to evaluate the six juvenile delinquency prevention programs systematically and comprehensively. The following conclusions were obtained after the analysis. The crime rate of rural youths in County W is as high as 15.8%, with a wide range of crimes. 81.6% of the relevant departments in community governance did not establish rural juvenile records, and about 13% of the departments did not conduct crime prevention training. The Green Clay People Juvenile Crime Prevention Program, which uses social connection theory as a strategy, has an evaluation value of 0.242, and the completion rate of the agreed service indicators specified in the contract is more than 100%. The overall evaluation of the six programs was 87% satisfied. Therefore, the intelligent decision analysis system in this paper has been well applied in the evaluation of juvenile crime prevention strategies, with the progress and development of society, and will occupy an important position in the future for a considerable time.
... A tendency for repeated offense and other factors indicates, that not all delinquent behavior correction programs, the usage of which is a reason for being in a youth detention center, are effective. Van der Put et al. (2021) research shows, that some delinquency correction and prevention programs may cause criminal behavior, which is the opposite effect. For example, the "Scared Straight" program, which was used to inform the youth about the punishment for wrongdoing, was ineffective. ...
The necessity of delinquent behavior correction programs is determined by the prevention of wrongdoing and by the correction of behavior if a crime has been committed. The article aims to generalize the conceptual basis and principles of delinquent behavior correction program creation for youth detention center pupils. To achieve the set aims of the research, methods of scientific literature analysis method, interviewing, and mathematical statistics methods were used. Empiric research results on the effectiveness of various delinquent behavior correction program effectiveness, principles for the creation of effective programs, indicators, which can be used to evaluate the disposition of youth for delinquent behavior, and motives behind crimes were analyzed. Aggression level indicators and delinquent behavior disposition amongst pupils of the Kremenchuk youth detention center. Based on acquired data, a scheme of delinquent behavior correction program creation for pupils of various aggression and delinquent behavior disposition levels was developed.
... The heterogeneity assessment method proposed by Boele et al. (2019) was utilized to examine the significance of the variance distributed at levels 2 and 3 of the three-level model by performing two separate one-tailed log-likelihood ratio tests. If significant results were distributed at one of these levels, the distribution of effect sizes could be assumed to be heterogeneous (Assink & Wibbelink, 2016;Lei, Ran, Zhang, Mi, & Chen, 2020), suggesting that moderator analyses could be taken into account to examine the study design or intervention characteristics that may explain level 2 and/or level 3 variance (Geerlings, Asscher, Stams, & Assink, 2020;van der Put, Boekhout van Solinge, Stams, Hoeve, & Assink, 2021). ...
Youth suicidal ideation is regarded as a serious psychological problem that hinders their mental health development. Parental attachment is considered a critical factor linked with youth suicidal ideation, but existing findings are still inconsistent. The present study was based on the PRISMA method; it employed a three-level meta-analysis to obtain reliable estimates of effect size and examined a range of moderators (sample, publication, outcome). Through the retrieval of articles published before November 2020, a systematic search yielded 31 independent studies (N = 12848) from which 109 effect sizes could be extracted. The present meta-analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between parental attachment and youth suicidal ideation (r = −0.108, p < 0.001), implying that youths show a higher level of suicidal ideation when they experienced lower quality of parental attachment. Moreover, the overall association was influenced by different parental attachment patterns. More specifically, youth suicidal ideation was more strongly associated with parental alienation (r = 0.501, p < 0.001) than with parental communication (r = −0.173, p < 0.001). The moderator analyses also showed that the type of instrument used was a significant moderator of the association between parental attachment and youth suicidal ideation. The strength of the overall association was significantly stronger when measured with the IPPA (Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment) (r = −0.181, p = 0.003) than with the ECR (Experiences in Close Relationships) (r = 0.085, p = 0.003). These results indicate that assessing parental attachment is important in strengthening interventions that target suicidal ideation among youths.
• HIGHLIGHTS
• Our analysis revealed a significant negative association between parental attachment and youth.
• Specifically, the presence of a secure relationship with parents, as perceived by the youth, brings forth feelings of appreciation, acceptance, safety, and confidence, that predispose the individual to seek help in a more consistent manner and to resist to maladjusted behavior when faced with adversity. However, a low quality of attachment produces cognitions associated with perceived burdensomeness and failed belongingness, which increase a youth’s vulnerability to suicidal ideation.
• The parental attachment pattern showed a significant moderating effect on the association between parental attachment and youth suicidal ideation.
• Regarding the association between parental attachment and youth suicidal ideation, we observed that the manner in which parental attachment is measured is another moderating effect.
This paper reports on cannabis users' perceptions of state authorities' claims about cannabis and of the makers of those claims to investigate the legacy of fear‐based cannabis deterrence policies. The study is conducted in the under‐researched post‐Soviet European Latvia and draws on data from 27 semi‐structured interviews with cannabis users. This paper uses symbolic interactionism and grounded theory to demonstrate how constructed meanings can lead to unintended interactions; namely, the findings indicate that the participants recall that extraordinary claims about cannabis, in which its effects are likened to those of heroin, by authority figures did little to deter them from trying cannabis. Instead, participants construct claim makers as unobjective and lacking knowledge when it comes to cannabis and other illicit substances. Users may translate this lack of knowledge and objectivity into a decreased motivation to interact with state‐funded information or services. The participants link the lack of pragmatism regarding cannabis claims to both the legacy of the Soviet Union's regime, which the current leading experts had been exposed to, and vested interests. In conclusion, given the ever‐increasing digitalization of our societies that provides easy access to alternative information sources, this paper argues that state authorities' claims about cannabis should be limited to pragmatic and evidence‐based information to avoid the estrangement of their target populations.
This study sought to establish the role of media as a behavioral change agent amid girl's educational issues in Rwanda's eastern province, using the descriptive correlational design. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations. The study took place in five sectors/ local administrative entities of Gatsibo District in Rwanda's Eastern Province. The researchers chose the province because it is the region with the highest prevalence of girls' education issues. The affected girls in the district were 1,542 while the non-affected girls were 77,428, identified through statistical data from the Gatsibo District department of education, department of gender monitoring and from the Sector authorities. The affected group was included because they were the victims of the teenage pregnancy and other forms of violence. The non-affected were also included because they are vulnerable to girls' education issue. Data collection involved the use of a questionnaire. Based on the findings, the study concluded that media has some potentials to educate girls on reproductive health and raise awareness of the importance to end violence against girls. The study contributes to the understanding of how to address girls' educational issues through media for sustainable education. Therefore, policy makers should design tailored behavioral change messages targeting peers, parents, educators and the community at large to promote social environment behaviors that support girls' education. Media can particularly address such issues like parenting skills, reproductive health education and girls' rights to education.
While assessments of transparent reporting practices in meta-analyses are not uncommon in the field of health sciences interventions, they are limited in the social sciences and to our knowledge are non-existent in criminology. Modified PRISMA 2020 checklists were used to assess transparency and reproducibility of reporting for a sample of 33 meta-analyses of intervention/prevention evaluations published in scholarly journals between 2016 and 2021. Results indicate that the average rate of transparent reporting practices was 63%; adherence varied considerably across studies and subscales, with low rates of adherence for some core checklist items. Overwhelmingly, studies were not reproducible in their entirety; article word count was significantly correlated with reproducibility ( r = 0.4028, p < .03). These findings suggest that substantial changes to reporting practices are necessary to meet traditional meta-analytic claims of transparency and reproducibility. Study limitations include sample size, coding instruments, and coding subjectivity.
There is a lack of knowledge about specific components that make interventions effective in preventing or reducing child maltreatment. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to increase this knowledge by summarizing findings on effects of interventions for child maltreatment and by examining potential moderators of this effect, such as intervention components and study characteristics. Identifying effective components is essential for developing or improving child maltreatment interventions. A literature search yielded 121 independent studies (N = 39,044) examining the effects of interventions for preventing or reducing child maltreatment. From these studies, 352 effect sizes were extracted. The overall effect size was significant and small in magnitude for both preventive interventions (d = 0.26, p < .001) and curative interventions (d = 0.36, p < .001). Cognitive behavioral therapy, home visitation, parent training, family-based/multisystemic, substance abuse, and combined interventions were effective in preventing and/or reducing child maltreatment. For preventive interventions, larger effect sizes were found for short-term interventions (0–6 months), interventions focusing on increasing self-confidence of parents, and interventions delivered by professionals only. Further, effect sizes of preventive interventions increased as follow-up duration increased, which may indicate a sleeper effect of preventive interventions. For curative interventions, larger effect sizes were found for interventions focusing on improving parenting skills and interventions providing social and/or emotional support. Interventions can be effective in preventing or reducing child maltreatment. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
This paper discusses challenges in utilizing findings and constructs from different (health behavior) theories. There is a multitude of theories that can be used, but the question is what to do with so many theories. As a result there is debate about the need for integrating health behavior theories. Opponents of integrating theories suggest that this may lead to a theory of everything without adding anything. Supporters, however, see advantages of such an approach. Integration is more than simply combining theories. Combining theories implies using a simple additive model. Integration, however, implies critical testing of these constructs, and constructs will only be added if they have supplementary value theoretically and empirically and will lead to developing and testing new hypotheses. This paper outlines what the advantages of critical testing and integration of theories could be, using the Integrated-Change Model as an example.
Applying a multilevel approach to meta-analysis is a strong method for dealing with dependency of effect sizes. However, this method is relatively unknown among researchers and, to date, has not been widely used in meta-analytic research. Therefore, the purpose of this tutorial was to show how a three-level random effects model can be applied to meta-analytic models in R using the rma.mv function of the metafor package. This application is illustrated by taking the reader through a step-by-step guide to the multilevel analyses comprising the steps of (1) organizing a data file; (2) setting up the R environment; (3) calculating an overall effect; (4) examining heterogeneity of within-study variance and between-study variance; (5) performing categorical and continuous moderator analyses; and (6) examining a multiple moderator model. By example, the authors demonstrate how the multilevel approach can be applied to meta-analytically examining the association between mental health disorders of juveniles and juvenile offender recidivism. In our opinion, the rma.mv function of the metafor package provides an easy and flexible way of applying a multi-level structure to meta-analytic models in R. Further, the multilevel meta-analytic models can be easily extended so that the potential moderating influence of variables can be examined.
In meta-analysis, dependent effect sizes are very common. An example is where in one or more studies the effect of an intervention is evaluated on multiple outcome variables for the same sample of participants. In this paper, we evaluate a three-level meta-analytic model to account for this kind of dependence, extending the simulation results of Van den Noortgate, López-López, Marín-Martínez, and Sánchez-Meca Behavior Research Methods, 45, 576-594 (2013) by allowing for a variation in the number of effect sizes per study, in the between-study variance, in the correlations between pairs of outcomes, and in the sample size of the studies. At the same time, we explore the performance of the approach if the outcomes used in a study can be regarded as a random sample from a population of outcomes. We conclude that although this approach is relatively simple and does not require prior estimates of the sampling covariances between effect sizes, it gives appropriate mean effect size estimates, standard error estimates, and confidence interval coverage proportions in a variety of realistic situations.
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