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Advanced LifeSkills Training

Advanced LifeSkills Training

Evidence rating
3
Cost rating
1
Review: March 2017

Note on provider involvement: This provider has agreed to EIF’s terms of reference, and the assessment has been conducted and published with the full cooperation of the programme provider.

Advanced LifeSkills Training (LST) is a school-based substance misuse prevention programme designed to help young people avoid tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse.

Advanced LifeSkills is a universal programme for all children and young people between the ages of 11 and 14.

Advanced LifeSkills Training is delivered to classrooms of children or young people by teachers, social workers or youth workers. The curriculum teaches children and young people personal self-management skills, social skills, and strategies for resisting tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.

EIF Programme Assessment

Evidence rating
3

Advanced LifeSkills Training has evidence of a short-term positive impact on child outcomes from at least one rigorous evaluation.

What does the evidence rating mean?

Level 3 indicates evidence of efficacy. This means the programme can be described as evidence-based: it has evidence from at least one rigorously conducted RCT or QED demonstrating a statistically significant positive impact on at least one child outcome.

This programme does not receive a rating of 4 as it has not yet replicated its results in another rigorously conducted study, where at least one study indicates long-term impacts, and at least one uses measures independent of study participants. 

What does the plus mean?

The plus rating indicates that this programme has evidence from at least one level 3 study, along with evidence from other studies rated 2 or better.

Note: There is a curriculum for younger children (8 to 11-year-olds), named ‘essential’ LifeSkills Training. However, the evidence reviewed here only evaluates the advanced version for 11 to 14-year-olds.

Cost rating
1

A rating of 1 indicates that a programme has a low cost to set up and deliver, compared with other interventions reviewed by EIF. This is equivalent to an estimated unit cost of less than £100.

Child outcomes

According to the best available evidence for this programme's impact, it can achieve the following positive outcomes for children:

Preventing risky sexual behaviour & teen pregnancy

based on
8.5-point improvement on the Eysenck Personality Inventory (self-report)
Improvement index: +7
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 57% and worse outcomes than 43% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term A year later

Preventing substance abuse

based on
0.09-point improvement on the 9-point drunkenness frequency response scale (self-report)
Improvement index: +4
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 54% and worse outcomes than 46% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term A year later
based on
0.13-point improvement on a single item self-report measure of drunkenness frequency
Improvement index: +4
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 54% and worse outcomes than 46% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term 9 years later
based on
0.21-point improvement on the 9-point smoking frequency response scale (self-report)
Improvement index: +5
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 55% and worse outcomes than 45% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term A year later
based on
0.17-point improvement on a single item self-report measure of smoking frequency
Improvement index: +5
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 55% and worse outcomes than 45% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term 9 years later
based on
0.13-point improvement on the 11-point smoking index (self-report)
Improvement index: +7
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 57% and worse outcomes than 43% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term A year later
based on
0.22-point improvement on the 6 point ‘amount consumed per occasion’ scale (self-report)
Improvement index: +7
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 57% and worse outcomes than 43% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term A year later
based on
0.17-point improvement on the 9-point drinking quantity response scale (self-report)
Improvement index: +7
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 57% and worse outcomes than 43% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term A year later
based on
0.05-point improvement on the 9-point inhalant use frequency response scale (self-report)
Improvement index: +3
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 53% and worse outcomes than 47% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term A year later
based on
0.09-point improvement on the current polydrug usage score (self-report)
Improvement index: +5
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 55% and worse outcomes than 45% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term A year later
based on
0.18-point improvement on the lifetime polydrug usage score (self-report)
Improvement index: +7
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 57% and worse outcomes than 43% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term A year later
based on
2.5-percentage point reduction in proportion of participants who are binge drinkers (measured using a one-item self-report measure assessing how much a participant drinks each time they drink)
Improvement index: +21
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 71% and worse outcomes than 29% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term A year later
3-percentage point reduction in proportion of participants who are binge drinkers (measured using a one-item self-report measure assessing how much a participant drinks each time they drink)
Improvement index: +21
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 71% and worse outcomes than 29% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term 2 years later
based on
0.18-point improvement on the Substance Initiation Index (self-report)
Improvement index: +7
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 57% and worse outcomes than 43% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term 5 years later
based on
0.06-point improvement on Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (self-report)
Improvement index: +5
This means we would expect the average participant in the comparison group who did not receive the intervention (ie, someone for whom 50% of their peers have better outcomes and 50% have worse outcomes), to improve to the point where they would have better outcomes than 55% and worse outcomes than 45% of their peers, if they had received the intervention.
Long-term 9 years later
Advanced LifeSkills Training

Key programme characteristics

Who is it for?

The best available evidence for this programme relates to the following age-groups:

  • Preadolescents
  • Adolescents

How is it delivered?

The best available evidence for this programme relates to implementation through these delivery models:

  • Group

Where is it delivered?

The best available evidence for this programme relates to its implementation in these settings:

  • Secondary school

The programme may also be delivered in these settings:

  • Primary school
  • Community centre

How is it targeted?

The best available evidence for this programme relates to its implementation as:

  • Universal

Where has it been implemented?

England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

UK provision

This programme has been implemented in the UK.

UK evaluation

This programme’s best evidence does not include evaluation conducted in the UK.

Spotlight sets

EIF includes this programme in the following Spotlight sets:

  • School-based social & emotional learning
Advanced LifeSkills Training

About the programme

What happens during delivery?

How is it delivered?
  • Advanced LST is delivered in 36 sessions of one hour’s duration each by one teacher, social worker, or youth worker to classrooms of young people. 17 of these sessions are delivered when the young people are between 11 and 12 years old (level 1). 12 sessions are delivered when they are between 12 and 13 (level 2), and a further seven sessions are delivered when they are between 13 and 14 (level 3) – these act as booster sessions so that key concepts and skills are reinforced and developed over time.
What happens during the intervention?
  • The curriculum teaches children and young people personal self-management skills, social skills and strategies for resisting tobacco, alcohol and drugs.
  • The curriculum is taught with a variety of techniques to include facilitation, coaching, assessment and behavioural rehearsal which are proven training methods.
  • Young people receive a copy of their own workbook called the 'LifeSkills Magazine' which is full of activities and exercises which reinforce what they have learned in class.
  • There are also letters available as part of the programme to send home to parents so they can reinforce the techniques being used.

What are the implementation requirements?

Who can deliver it?
  • The practitioner who delivers this programme is a classroom teacher (or youth/social worker) with QCF-6 level qualifications.
What are the training requirements?
  • They have 14 hours of programme training. Booster training of practitioners is recommended.
How are the practitioners supervised?
  • It is recommended that practitioners are supervised by one programme developer supervisor (qualified to QCF-6 level).
What are the systems for maintaining fidelity?
  • Training manual
  • Other printed material
  • Fidelity monitoring
  • Huddle (collaboration software) facilitates discussions on the programme between LST facilitators
  • In-class coaching support
Is there a licensing requirement?

Yes, there is a licence required to run this programme.

How does it work? (Theory of Change)

How does it work?
  • Strong self-management skills protect children and young people from misusing tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs.
  • LST teaches young people self-management skills such as decision making and dealing with stress, social skills such as effective communication and strategies for resisting peer pressure such as assertiveness.
  • In the short term, children and young people have better awareness about the misconceptions associated with drugs, tobacco, and alcohol and are better able to communicate positively with others.
  • In the longer term, children and young people have greater self-confidence, improved peer relationships, and perform better at school. Ultimately young people will be less likely to engage in risk-taking behaviours.
Intended outcomes

Supporting children's mental health and wellbeing
Enhancing school achievement & employment
Preventing substance abuse
Preventing risky sexual behaviour & teen pregnancy

Contact details

Advanced LifeSkills Training

About the evidence

Advanced LifeSkills Training’s most rigorous evidence comes from three RCTs which were conducted in the USA.

The first study is a rigorously conducted RCT; this study identified statistically significant positive impact on a number of child outcomes. The second study is a rigorously conducted RCT; this study identified statistically significant positive impact on a number of child outcomes.

In the implementations of Advanced LifeSkills evaluated in the studies listed here, the numbers of sessions actually delivered differ slightly to the number described in the 'About the programme' section – in the first study: 15 sessions for level 1, 10 sessions for level 2, and 0 sessions for level 3; in the second study: 15 sessions for level 1, five sessions for level 2, and four sessions for level 3.

Study 1a

Citation: Botvin et al (2001a)
Design: Cluster RCT
Country: United States
Sample: 5,222 children with an average age of 12.9 years
Timing: Three-months post-intervention, one-year follow-up
Child outcomes: Reduced risk-taking
Reduced drunkenness frequency
Reduced smoking frequency
Reduced smoking quantity
Reduced drinking frequency
Reduced drinking quantity
Reduced frequency of inhalant use
Reduced current polydrug use
Reduced lifetime polydrug use
Other outcomes: None measured
Study rating: 3

Botvin, G. J., Griffin, K. W., Diaz, T., & Ifill-Williams, M. (2001a). Drug abuse prevention among minority adolescents: Posttest and one-year follow-up of a school-based preventive intervention. Prevention Science, 2(1), 1–13.

Available at
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1010025311161

Study design and sample

The first study is a rigorously conducted RCT. The study was a cluster RCT, with randomisation at the level of the school.  Schools were randomised to either a 15-session LifeSkills Training programme in seventh grade, along with 10 booster sessions in eighth grade, or to a control group receiving business-as-usual services.

This study was conducted in the United States (New York) with a sample of 5,222 children who were 12.9 years old on average. The sample was predominantly composed of ethnic minority groups, and was economically disadvantaged (62% free school lunch).

Measures

The frequency and quantity of smoking cigarettes, smoking marijuana, alcohol consumption and the use of inhalants were measured using child self-reports on Likert-type scale items of frequency. The above measures were combined to produce two additional variables: lifetime polydrug use (ie the number of substances ever used, out of four) and current polydrug use (ie the number of substances used in the past month, out of four).

In addition, the study assesses a number of mediating variables including intentions to use substances, normative expectations relating to the prevalence of drug use and a set of social and emotional competencies: decision-making was assessed using the Coping Assessment Battery, assertiveness was assessed using the Gambrill and Richey Assertion Inventory, and risk-taking was assessed using the Eysenck Personality Inventory.

Findings

This study identified statistically significant positive impact on a number of child outcomes.  At post-test, there were statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups favouring the intervention group on frequency of drunkenness. At one-year follow-up, in terms of substance use outcomes, statistically significant differences favouring the intervention group were identified on: smoking frequency, smoking quantity, drinking frequency, drunkenness frequency, drinking quantity, inhalant frequency, as well as lifetime polydrug use and current polydrug use. Statistically significant effects were also identified on a range of mediating variables, including refusal skills efficacy and risk-taking. 

More Less about study 1a

Study 1b

Citation: Botvin et al (2001b)
Design: Cluster RCT
Country: United States
Sample: 5,222 children with an average age of 12.9 years
Timing: Two-year follow-up
Child outcomes: Reduced binge drinking
Other outcomes: None measured
Study rating: 3

Botvin, G. J., Griffin, K. W., Diaz, T., & Ifill-Williams, M. (2001b). Preventing binge drinking during early adolescence: One-and two-year follow-up of a school-based preventive intervention. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 15(4), 360–365.

Available at
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.533.3409&rep=rep1&type=pdf

This paper describes additional outcomes from study 1a described above. In this case:

  • At a two-year follow-up, binge drinking was measured using a dichotomised version of a six-point scale assessing alcohol consumed per drinking occasion, identifying students who report that they drink five or more drinks per drinking occasion) (child self-report). Knowledge of drinking was measured using a 16-item scale of children’s knowledge relating to drinking (child self-report). Anti-drinking attitudes were measured using items adapted from the Teenager’s Self-test: Cigarette Smoking measure (child self-report). Finally, normative expectations of peer drinking were measured using a five-point scale assessing the extent to which child perceived the prevalence of substance use among peers to be high (child self-report).
  • This study identified statistically significant positive impact on a number of child outcomes. At two-year follow-up, significant differences favouring the intervention group were identified on binge drinking and normative expectations of peer drinking.
More Less about study 1b

Study 2a

Citation: Spoth et al (2008)
Design: Cluster RCT
Country: United States
Sample: 1,831 families, with children between 12 and 13 years old
Timing: Five years post-intervention
Child outcomes: Reduced substance initiation
Other outcomes: None measured
Study rating: 3

Spoth, R. L., Randall, G. K., Trudeau, L., Shin, C., & Redmond, C. (2008). Substance use outcomes 5½ years past baseline for partnership-based, family-school preventive interventions. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 96(1), 57–68.

Available at
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871608000665

Study design and sample

The second study is a rigorously conducted RCT. The study was a cluster RCT, with randomisation at the level of the school. Schools were randomised to either a LifeSkills only group, a LifeSkills and Strengthening Families group (an intervention which aims to reduce substance use via improving parenting skills), or a minimal contact control condition (leaflets on teen development mailed to parents).

This study was conducted in the United States, with a sample of 1,831 children who were between 12 and 13 years old at the beginning of the programme. The children in the sample were predominantly white, and recruited from rural areas. 

Measures

Up to five years after programme completion, the extent to which children have ever used alcohol, cigarettes, or marijuana was assessed using the Substance Initiation Index (child self-report). Two additional measures were used: a poly-substance use index (a self-report measure of whether alcohol, cigarettes, or marijuana were used in the past month), and an advanced poly-substance use index (a self-report measure of how many substances have been used in terms of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana, with hierarchical weighting to indicate the extent of progression of substance use).

Findings

This study identified statistically significant positive impact on substance initiation.

More Less about study 2a

Study 2b

Citation: Spoth et al (2014)
Design: Cluster RCT
Country: United States
Sample: 1,831 families, with children between 12 and 13 years old
Timing: Nine years post-intervention
Child outcomes: Reduced drunkenness frequency
Reduced smoking frequency
Reduced alcohol-related problems
Other outcomes: None measured
Study rating: 3

Spoth, R., Trudeau, L., Redmond, C., & Shin, C. (2014). Replication RCT of early universal prevention effects on young adult substance misuse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82(6), 949–963.

Available at
http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/ccp/82/6/949/

This paper describes additional outcomes from study 2a described above. In this case:

  • Up to nine years after programme completion, drunkenness was measured using Likert-type items adapted from the Monitoring the Future study assessing the frequency of drinking until drunk (child self-report). Alcohol-related problems were measured using a short, modified form the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (child self-report). The frequency of smoking was measured using Likert-type scale items. Illicit substance use was measured using Likert-type scale items assessing the frequency of using illicit substances – marijuana, narcotics, cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, amphetamines, barbiturates, tranquilisers, and LSD.
  • This study identified statistically significant positive impact on a number of child outcomes. At the none year follow-up, significant differences favouring the intervention group were identified on drunkenness, alcohol-related problems, and frequency of smoking.
More Less about study 2b

Other studies

The following studies were identified for this programme but did not count towards the programme's overall evidence rating. A programme receives the same rating as its most robust study or studies.

Botvin, G. J., Griffin, K. W., & Williams, C. (2015). Preventing daily substance use among high school students using a cognitive-behavioral competence enhancement approach. World Journal of Preventive Medicine, 3(3), 48–53 - This reference refers to a randomised control trial, conducted in the USA.

Botvin, G. J., Griffin, K. W., & Nichols, T. D. (2006). Preventing youth violence and delinquency through a universal school-based prevention approach. Prevention Science, 7(4), 403–408 - This reference refers to a randomised control trial, conducted in the USA.

Botvin, G. J., Epstein, J. A., Baker, E., Diaz, T., & Ifill-Williams, M. (1997). School-based drug abuse prevention with inner-city minority youth. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 6(1), 5–19 - This reference refers to a quasi-experimental design, conducted in the USA.

MacKillop, J., Ryabchenko, K. A., & Lisman, S. A. (2006). Life skills training outcomes and potential mechanisms in a community implementation: A preliminary investigation. Substance Use & Misuse, 41(14), 1921–1935 - This reference refers to a pre-post study, conducted in the USA.

Sneddon, H. (2015). LifeSkills substance misuse prevention programme: Evaluation of implementation and outcomes in the UK. Full report.

Spoth, R., Trudeau, L., Shin, C., Ralston, E., Redmond, C., Greenberg, M., & Feinberg, M. (2013). Longitudinal effects of universal preventive intervention on prescription drug misuse: Three randomized controlled trials with late adolescents and young adults. American Journal of Public Health, 103(4), 665–672 - This reference refers to a randomised control trial, conducted in the USA.

Crowley, D. M., Jones, D. E., Coffman, D. L., & Greenberg, M. T. (2014). Can we build an efficient response to the prescription drug abuse epidemic? Assessing the cost effectiveness of universal prevention in the PROSPER trial. Preventive Medicine, 62, 71–77 - This reference refers to a randomised control trial, conducted in the USA.

Published November 2023

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