Abstract
This study is an extension of a previous evaluation of a program (Red Flag/Green Flag) in which children, parents, and teachers were exposed to a workbook and film designed to teach personal safety strategies for preventing sexual victimization or encouraging adult assistance through disclosure of such incidents. In the current investigation, only children and their teachers received this didactic training program. Children and teachers from neighboring schools were assigned to a Training or Control group. Self-reports from children, teachers, and parents, as well as guidance counselor incident reports, were obtained to evaluate outcome. Results indicated greater gains in general knowledge and prevention skills at post-training and 6-month follow-up for trained than control children. Some improvements were made by trained teachers and parents of trained children. Child reports of personal experiences and guidance counselor incident reports were in accord with the assistance component of the program. However, the pattern of reports across sources is difficult to interpret. The findings are discussed in light of salient issues regarding the content of training, child disclosure, and methodology.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alter-Reid, K., Gibbs, M. S., Lachenmeyer, J. R., Sigal, J., and Massoth, N. A. (1986). Sexual abuse of children: A review of the empirical findings.Clin. Psychol. Rev. 6: 249–266.
Binder, R. L., and McNiel, D. E. (1987). Evaluation of a school-based sexual abuse prevention program: Cognitive and emotional affects.Child Abuse Neglect 11: 497–506.
Browne, A., and Finkelhor, D. (1986). Impact of child sexual abuse: a review of the research.Psychological Bull. 99: 66–77.
Byers, J. (1986). Films for child sexual abuse prevention and treatment: A review.Child Abuse Negl. 10: 541–546.
Conte, J. R. (1986). An analysis of programs to prevent the sexual victimization of children.J. Prim. Prev. 6: 141–155.
Conte, J. R., Rosen, C., Saperstein, L. and Shermack, R. (1985). An evaluation of a program to prevent the sexual victimization of young children.Child Abuse Negl. 9: 319–328.
Coppens, N. M. (1986). Cognitive characteristics as predictors of children's understanding of safety and prevention.J. Pediatr. Psychol. 11: 189–195.
Downer, A. (1984).The development and testing of an evaluation instrument for assessing the effectiveness of a child sexual abuse prevention curriculum: Talking about touching, Committee for Children, Seattle, WA.
Film Fair Communications (1979).Better safe than sorry II, 900 Ventura Blvd., Box 1728, Studio, Calif. 91604.
Finkelhor, D., and Strapko, N. (1988). Sexual abuse prevention education: a review of evaluation studies. In Willis, D. J., Holder, E. W., and Rosenberg, M. (eds.),Child Abuse Prevention, John Wiley, New York. In press.
Flanagan, R. (1986). Teaching young children responses to inappropriate approaches by strangers in public places.Child Fam. Behav. Ther. 8: 27–43.
Fryer, G. E., Kraizer, S. K., and Miyoshi, T. (1987a). Measuring actual reduction of risk to child abuse: A new approach.Child Abuse Negl. 11: 173–180.
Fryer, G. E., Kraizer, S. K., and Miyoshi, T. (1987b). Measuring children's retention of skills to resist stranger abduction: Use the simulation technique.Child Abuse Negl. 11: 181–186.
Garbarino, J. (1987). Children's response to a sexual abuse prevention program: A study of theSpiderman comic.Child Abuse Negl. 11: 143–148.
Gilgun, J. F. (1986). Sexually abused girls' knowledge about sexual abuse and sexuality.J. Int. Viol. 1: 309–325.
Hazzard, A. (1984). Training teachers to identify and intervene with abused children.J. Clin. Child Psychol. 13: 288–293.
Kolko, D. J. (1988). Educational programs to promote the awareness and prevention of sexual victimization: A methodological critique.Clin. Psychol. Rev. 8: 195–209.
Kolko, D. J., Moser, J. T., Litz, J., and Hughes, J. (1986). Promoting awareness and prevention of child sexual victimization using the Red Flag/Green Flag program: An evaluation with follow-up.J. Fam. Viol. 2: 11–35.
Kulka, P. (1984).Third Grade Sexual and Physical Abuse Prevention Program, Unpublished Master's Thesis, North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D.
Leventhal, J. M. (1987). Programs to prevent sexual abuse: What outcomes should be measured?Child Abuse Negl. 11: 169–171.
Lusk, R., and Waterman, J. (1986). Effects of sexual abuse on children. In MacFarlane, K., Waterman, J., Conerly, S., Damon, L., Durfee, M., and Long, S. (eds.),Sexual Abuse of Young Children: Evaluation and Treatment, Guilford Press, New York.
MacFarlane, K. (1986). Helping parents cope with extrafamilial molestation. In MacFarlane, K., and Waterman, J. (eds.),Sexual Abuse of Young Children: Evaluation and Treatment, Guilford Press, New York, pp. 299–311.
Melton, G. B. (1988). The improbability of prevention of sexual abuse. In Willis, D. J., Holden, E. N., and Rosenberg, M. (eds.),Child Abuse Prevention, Wiley, New York, In press.
Miller-Perrin, C. L., and Wurtele, S. K. (1988). The child sexual abuse prevention movement: A critical analysis of primary and secondary approaches.Clin. Psychol. Rev. 8: 313–329.
Miltenberger, R. G. and Thiesse-Duffy, E. (1988). Evaluation of home-based programs for teaching personal safety skills to children.J. Appl. Behav. Anal. 21: 81–87.
Nurcombe, B. (1986). The child as witness: Competence and credibility.J. Am. Acad. Child Psychiat. 25: 473–480.
Plummer, C. (1984).Preventing Sexual Abuse: What In-School Programs Teach Children, Paper presented at the Second National Conference for Family Violence Researchers, Durham, N.H.
Porch, T. L., and Petretic-Jackson, P. A. (1986, August).Child Sexual Assault Prevention: Evaluating Parent Education Workshops, Paper presented at the 94th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.
Ray, J., and Dietzel, M. (1984).Teaching child sexual abuse prevention, Unpublished manuscript, Spokane, Washington.
Riggs, R. S. (1982). Incest: The school's role.J. School Health, 52, 365–369.
Saslawsky, D. A., and Wurtele, S. K. (1986). Educating children about sexual abuse: Implications for pediatrie intervention and possible prevention.J. Pediatr. Psychol. 11: 235–245.
Williams, J. (1980).Red Flag/Green Flag People Coloring Book, Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, Fargo, N.D.
Wolfe, D. A., MacPherson, T., Blount, R., and Wolfe, V. V. (1986). Evaluation of a brief intervention for educating school children in awareness of physical and sexual abuse.Child Abuse Negl. 10: 85–92.
Woods, S. C., and Dean, K. S. (1985).Evaluating Sexual Abuse Prevention Strategies, Paper presented at the Seventh National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, Chicago, Ill.
Wurtele, S. K. (1987). School-based sexual abuse prevention programs: A review.Child Abuse Negl. 11: 483–495.
Wurtele, S. K., and Miller-Perrin, C. L. (1987). An evaluation of side effects associated with participation in a child sexual abuse prevention program.J. School Health 57: 228–231.
Wurtele, S. K., Saslawsky, D. A., Miller, C. L., Marrs, S. R. and Britcher, J. C. (1986). Teaching personal safety skills for potential prevention of sexual abuse: A comparison of treatments.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 54: 688–692.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kolko, D.J., Moser, J.T. & Hughes, J. Classroom training in sexual victimization awareness and prevention skills: An extension of the Red Flag/Green Flag people program. J Fam Viol 4, 25–45 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00985655
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00985655