The effectiveness of Project K on participants’ Health and Lifestyle Behaviours

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Project K on participants' health and lifestyle behaviours (HLB). Project K, run by the Foundation of Youth Development (FYD), is a youth development programme targeting Year 10 students with low self-efficacy. The current study used both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Firstly, 1095 eligible participants (516 Project K and 579 control) who completed all three components of the programme (i.e. Wilderness Adventure, Community Challenge and Mentoring) and questionnaires at each available measurement time were included in the quantitative analysis. Due to the hierarchical nature of the database, HLM (hierarchical linear modelling) analysis was used. The results showed that Project K increased participants' frequency of eating breakfast and vegetable at post-programme and also reduced the frequency of eating unhealthily. Also, although the frequency of truancy increased in both groups, the Project K group truant less frequently compared to the control group at one-yearpost-- programme. Secondly, individual interviews were conducted with related stakeholders, including the staff members from the FYD National Support Office (NSO), service providers and mentor coordinators. These revealed that Project K addresses adolescents' HLB directly by providing direct experiences, positive role models and discussions of benefits and risks of behaviours. It also addresses their HLB indirectly by promoting overall positivity, selfefficacy, goal-setting and reflection. In addition, stakeholders discussed the potential barriers of improving participants' HLB, including social environment (i.e., family, peers and culture), resources (i.e., time and money), individual and programme differences. Recommendations for FYD and other youth programmes are given based on the findings of the quantitative and qualitative analyses.