Long-Term Outcomes of the ATHENA (Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise & Nutrition Alternatives) Program for Female High School Athletes.

• NCJ Number: 253619
• Journal: Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 52 Issue: 2 Dated: August 2008 Pages: 73-92
• Author(s): Diane L. Elliot; Linn Goldberg; Esther L. Moe; Carol A. Defrancesco; Melissa B Durham; Wendy McGinnis; Chondra Lockwood
• Date Published: August 2008
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Program/Project Evaluation; Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: CrimeSolutions Program ID #257

Annotation

Since adolescence and emerging adulthood are critical windows for establishing life-long behaviors, the current study assessed long-term outcomes of a prospective randomized harm-reduction/health- promotion program for female high school athletes.

Abstract

The intervention's immediate beneficial effects on diet pill use and unhealthy eating behaviors have been reported; however, tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use were not immediately altered (Elliot et al, 2004). One to three years following graduation, positive benefits in those domains were evident, and intervention students reported significantly less lifetime use of cigarettes, marijuana, and alcohol. This indicates that sport teams may be effective vehicles for gender-specific interventions to promote competency skills and deter harmful actions, and those benefits may be sustained when acquired abilities are applied in new environments following high school graduation. (publisher abstract modified)