Barri Burrus|Kathleen Krieger|Regina Rutledge|Alexander Rabre|Sarah Axelson|Audra L Miller|LeBretia White|Christine Jackson
Building Bridges to a Brighter Tomorrow: A Systematic Evidence Review of Interventions That Prepare Adolescents for Adulthood
RTI International|Administration for Children and Families|RTI International|Administration for Children and Families|RTI International|Administration for Children and Families|RTI International|Administration for Children and Families|RTI International|Administration for Children and Families|RTI International|Administration for Children and Families|RTI International|Administration for Children and Families|RTI International|Administration for Children and Families
data suggest adverse social determinants adolescence set motion lifetime poor social health outcomes vulnerable youths particularly high risk regardto identify assess current evidence base adolescentfocused interventions designed influence adulthood preparation could affect longerterm social determinantsusing systematic review methodology conducted initial assessment intervention evaluations targeting 6 adulthood preparation subject aps areas assess quality character evidence base review specific evaluated interventions address least 1 6 aps areas healthy relationships adolescent development financial literacy parentchild communication educational career success healthy life skillsthe inclusion criteria follows 1 published english independent peerreviewed journal 2 conducted developed englishspeaking countries 3 implemented intervention addressed least 1 6 aps areas delivered inperson setting 4 included youths 5th 12thgrade levels aged 10 18 years point intervention implementation 5 included evaluation component comparison group baseline followup measures 6 included behavioral measures outcomes 7 reported statistical significance levels behavioral outcome measureswe developed abstraction form capture details article including key details intervention services implementer characteristics timing adulthood preparation foci evaluation design methods key behavioral measures results including key statistically significant results behaviorbased outcome measures assessed study quality using several key factors including randomization baseline equivalence treatment control groups attrition confounding factors characterized quality evidence high moderate low basis described design execution research assessment included information stated explicitly manuscripta total 36 independent intervention evaluations met criteria inclusion 27 75 included significant findings behavioral outcomes related adulthood preparation quality mixed across studies 36 studies reviewed 27 used randomized controlled design 15 group randomization 12 individual randomization whereas others used observational prepost designs ten studies used mixedmethods approaches n 32 studies used selfreport questionnaires baseline followup questionnaire 14 studies included multiple followup points studies reviewed 7 studies received highquality rating indicating significant issues identified within quality criteria rated 23 studies moderate quality indicating methodological challenges within 1 quality criteria categories common reasons studies downrated poor baseline equivalency across treatment groups discussion baseline equivalency high levels attrition finally 6 studies received lowquality rating methodological challenges across multiple quality domains studies broadly represented aps areas identified systematic differences study quality across aps areasalthough intervention results indicate behavioral changes may linked adulthood preparation skills many extant findings derived moderate poorquality studies additional work needed build evidence base using methodologically rigorous implementation evaluation designs execution public health implications interventions designed help adolescents better prepare adulthood may potential affect longerterm social determinants health wellbeing theorydriven approaches rigorously evaluated interventions could strengthen evidence base improve effectiveness adulthood preparation interventions