Based on a systematic review of all available studies meeting inclusion criteria (n=53), the Task Force on Community Preventive Services has recommended the use of universal school-based programs to prevent or reduce violent behavior. Violence refers to both victimization and aggression. These programs teach students about the problem of violence and provide skills intended to reduce aggressive or violent behavior. For all grades combined (pre-K through high school), the median effect was a 15.0 percent relative reduction in violent behavior among students who received the program; effect sizes differed by school level with middle school demonstrating a significantly lower effect size compared with the other levels. All intervention strategies were associated with a reduction in violent behavior, and programs were found to be effective in all school environments regardless of socioeconomic status or crime rate, and among all school populations, regardless of the predominant ethnicity of students.

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Effect Behavioral Change, Reduce Injury, Reduce Morbidity, Reduce Mortality, Public Health, Academics, Research & Development, Primary Prevention, Secondary Prevention, Behavioral & Social, Informational & Educational, Community Intervention

Hahn R, Fuqua-Whitley D, Wethington H, Lowy J, Crosby A, Fullilove M, Johnson R, Liberman A, Moscicki E, Price L, Snyder S, Farris T, Cory S, Stone G, Mukhopadhaya K, Chattopadhyay S, Dahlberg L; Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Effectiveness of universal school-based programs to prevent violent and aggressive behavior: a systematic review [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): Task Force on Community Preventive Services; 2007 Aug [cited 2013 Jan 17]. Available from: http://www.thecommunityguide.org/violence/School_Evidence_review.pdf