Community-based intervention in schools : a personal and social competence promotion program

Primary prevention, through universal interventions, aims at the development of personal and social resources, and nowadays, it is one of the most important strategies for the prevention of drugs abuse in youth. School setting is pointed out as one of the best scenarios for health promotion actions. In this article are shown results of a Personal and Social Competences Promotion Program - PSCPP [1] [2] which took place in two schools in Lisbon. The program aims to prevent substance use, by means of developing personal and social competences. 100 students, aged between eight and eleven years, participated, mostly boys. The intervention occurred during school classes and was based on role-playing activities. Evaluation showed significant positive results in what concerns psychological difficulties, perception of social support, and problem solving competences. Teachers’ evaluation pointed out a better social behaviour among peers, as well as the importance of implementing programs promoting personal and social competences in schools. PSCPP had a positive impact on children positive health. Details of this project can be found in a manual [3].FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), IDP (Instituto do Desporto de Portugal), AIESEP World Congres