Analysis of the COPE Healthy Lifestyles TEEN Program Adolescent and Parent Evaluations

Jacobson, Diana L.

Purpose:

Adolescent and parent program evaluations from the COPE Healthy Lifestyles TEEN Program, a school-based healthy lifestyles program that focuses on improving adolescent nutrition choices, physical activity and mental health, will be discussed.

Methods:

Immediately after the 15 week COPE intervention program was delivered by high school health teachers, adolescents (n=319; 89.1%) and parents (n=169; 84.5%) completed program evaluation surveys. SPSS Text Analytics for Surveys© software was used to categorize and quantify participant responses to qualitative and quantitative questions.

Results:

Adolescents (78%) indicated that the program was helpful with 58% reporting positive changes in nutrition, physical activity and mental health as a result of the program. The majority of adolescents (83.2%) would recommend the COPE program to other high school students. In addition, positive feedback was provided by parents regarding the COPE intervention with 74.2% of parents reporting changes in their adolescent’s behaviors as a result of program participation and 69.2% noting a change in their own behavior. Based upon COPE intervention content, 14 key concept categories were identified and analyzed. Categorization of responses of qualitative questions utilizing text analytics revealed that adolescents found that the most helpful sessions centered on building self-esteem, improving positive thinking, dealing with emotions, and improving nutritional choices and physical activity. Categorization of parent responses to open-ended questions revealed that information concerning nutrition and physical activity were most beneficial.

Conclusion:

Analysis of the COPE Healthy Lifestyles TEEN Program adolescent and parent evaluations demonstrated many benefits for participants including positive behavior changes in the areas of physical activity and nutritional health. Additionally, positive changes in mental health were noted for adolescents. Analysis of intervention program evaluations is a vital aspect of intervention research. Results of this analysis increase understanding of the COPE program relevance, acceptability, impact and usefulness of the program content.