Poster #2
Can a cultural arts program with self-regulation skills reduce impulsive and aggressive risk factors and improve academic performance and empathy in youth?
By: Lisa Rapp-McCall, MSW, PhD, and Chris Stewart
Abstract:
The Prodigy Cultural Arts program is an early prevention and diversion program for at-risk youth ages 5-18 years of age. The visual and performing arts classes are taught by local artists and include embedded self-regulation skills such as communication, problem-solving, and anger management. Prior research has been conducted on the afterschool program and several important results have been observed, such as a reduction in internalizing and externalizing symptoms, including suicidal behaviors, and an increase in academic achievement and self-efficacy (Rapp-Paglicci, Stewart, & Rowe, 2012).
The CDC (2021) noted afterschool programs which included life skills and/or socioemotional learning reduced risk factors and maladaptive behaviors in youth. In addition, arts programs have been found to increase confidence, self-efficacy, emotional expression, and communication skills (Hospital et al., 2018; Sitzer & Stockwell, 2015).
This study sought to answer the following research questions: Is there a significant difference in self-regulation skills (anger management, problem-solving, and communication) between pre and posttest for Prodigy participants? Is there a significant reduction in risk factors between pre and posttest for Prodigy participants?
A quasi-experimental design with quantitative data was used to measure changes at pre-posttest. Participants (n= 61) were youth aged 8 to 17 who participated in the Prodigy program and their parent or legal guardian. Surveys were administered pre and posttest to youth and their guardians. Results indicated that all three self-regulation skills showed statistically significant improvement in youth from beginning to the end of the program. The risk factors were trending in a positive direction.
Overall, the afterschool cultural arts program (Prodigy) shows promise as an early prevention and diversion program for at-risk youth living in an impoverished, high crime area. Further research is needed.
Lisa Rapp-McCall
Dr. Lisa Rapp-McCall received her MSW and PhD degrees from the University of Buffalo and worked as a Psychiatric Social Worker in the areas of Domestic Violence, Children and Adolescent psychiatric inpatient units and outpatient clinics, Crisis Counseling, and in the Juvenile Justice system. She is a Professor of Social work and has taught for over 23 years. She is the Director of the Center for Research at Saint Leo University and the Editor-in-Chief of the Social Workers’ Desk Reference. Her research expertise focuses on various forms of abuse and violence including: juvenile crime and violence, child abuse, school violence, community violence, and human trafficking. She was awarded the Sol Gothard Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Organization of Forensic Social Workers in 2021.