Wie kann frühe Gewaltprävention gelingen? Konzept und Evaluation des Mehrebenen-Programms "Prävention in KiTa und Schule" (PiKS)

PiKS (Prevention in Kindergarten and School) is a primary preventive multilevel program for reducing aggression and violence amongst children. PiKS stands out among prevention programs, because its conception is guided by theory and it can be geared to the individual needs of participating institutions. An external program-manager ensures a comprehensive and coordinated implementation. The paper at hand illustrates the program’s concept and presents a longitudinal evaluation of its effectiveness in a pre-post-control-group-design. Over the course of two years children, parents and teachers from 10 kindergartens and primary schools participating in the program (IG) were compared to respective stakeholders from 7 kindergartens and primary schools not participating (CG). Analysis of data was carried out under consideration of the hierarchical structure of the data by means of latent change models. Results show noticeable indications of the reduction of aggression in the IG compared to the CG over the duration of the project. Interim goals of the program (awareness of problems related to aggression, active participation of parents and teachers, clear and consistently implemented rules, and the promotion of children’s social and emotional skills) were also mostly achieved. Since PiKS can be judged as theoretically grounded and empirically effective, the extension of the program to further institutions is recommended. Thus a contribution to the prevention of aggression and violence in society as a whole can be made.