Faculty

Edward A. Smith
Dr.P.H., University of North Carolina, 1983

Director of Evaluation Research, Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development

Program Director, Prevention and Methodology Training Program

Contact Information

S105G Henderson Building

eas8@psu.edu

Phone: 814-865-1201
Fax: 814-865-2530

http://www.prevention.psu.edu/

Prevention and Methodology Training (PAMT) program

Web site: http://www.prevention.psu.edu/grad/PAMT_2.html

Research Interests

Adolescents, health education, leisure time, pregnancy, prevention, program development/evaluation, substance abuse, HIV/STD prevention

Examples of Current Prevention Projects

Adolescent Drug and HIV Prevention in South Africa
National Institute on Drug Abuse

Start Date: 2003
HealthWise is a comprehensive, risk-reduction life skills curriculum for adolescents. The overall goals of the HealthWise curriculum are to: (1) reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other STIs, (2) reduce drug and alcohol abuse, and (3) increase positive use and experience of free and leisure time. The curriculum consists of twelve lessons for Grade 8 learners and six lessons for Grade 9 learners. This program is being evaluated with a randomized controlled trial involving over 7,500 adolescents.

Capacity Building for Research on HIV Stigma in

South Africa

National Institute of Mental Health

Start Date: June 2003

This project, which is headed by Collins Airhihenbuwa (Penn State Department of Biobehavioral Health), partners with the Human Sciences Research Council and two universities in South Africa to enhance the research capability of faculty and students to conduct research on the reduction of HIV stigma.

Life Skills Infusion/Prevention in Rural Junior High Grades
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Start Date: 1998
The focus of this project is to implement and evaluate Botvin’s Life Skills Training substance use prevention program in ten rural junior high schools.

HealthWise South Africa

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Start Date: 2001

HealthWise is a comprehensive, risk-reduction life skills curriculum for adolescents. The overall goals of the HealthWise curriculum are to (1) reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other STIs, (2) reduce drug and alcohol abuse, and (3) increase positive use and experience of free and leisure time. The curriculum consists of twelve lessons for Grade 8 learners, and six lessons for Grade 9 learners.

Recent Publications

Swisher, J. D., Smith, E. A., Vicary, J. R., Bechtel, L. J. & Hopkins, A. M. (2004). A cost-effectiveness comparison of two approaches to Life Skills Training. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 48(1), 71-80.

Smith, E. A., Swisher, J. D., Vicary, J. R., Bechtel, L. J., Minner, D., Henry, K. L. & Palmer, R. (2004). Evaluation of  Life Skills Training and Infused-Life Skills Training in a rural

setting. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 48(1), 51-70. 

Caldwell, L. L., Baldwin, C. K., Walls, T. & Smith, E. A.  (2004). Preliminary effects of a leisure education program to promote healthy use of free time among middle school adolescents. Journal of Leisure Research, 36, 310-335.

Caldwell, L. L., Smith, E. A., Wegner, L., Vergnani, T., Mpofu, E., Flisher, A., & Matthews, C. (2004). HealthWise South Africa: Developing a Life Skills Curriculum for Young Adults.

World Leisure Journal, 3, 4-14.

Vicary, J. R., Henry, K. L., Bechtel, L. J., Swisher, J. D., Smith, E. A., Wylie, R., et al. (2004).  Life Skills Training effects for high and low risk rural junior high school females.  Journal of

Primary Prevention, 25(4), 399-416.

Vicary, J. R., Smith, E. A., Swisher, J. D., Bechtel, L. J., Elek, E., Henry, K. L. & Hopkins, A. (2006). Results of a three year study of two methods of delivery of life skills training. Health Education and Behavior, 33(3), 325-339.

Bechtel, L. J., Vicary, J. R., Swisher, J. D., Smith, E. A., Hopkins, A. M., Henry, K. L., et al.  (2006).  An interdisciplinary approach for the integration and diffusion of substance abuse prevention programs. Journal of School Health, 37(4),219-225.

Mpofu, E., Caldwell, L., Smith, E., Flisher, A. J., Mathews, C., Wegner, L., & Vergnani, T. (2006). Rasch modeling of the structure of health risk behavior in South African adolescents. Journal of Applied Measurement, 7(3),323-334.

Henry, K. L., Smith, E. A., & Caldwell, L. L. (2006). Deterioration of academic achievement and marijuana use onset among rural adolescents. Health Education Research; doi: 10.1093/her/cyl083.

Caldwell, L. L., Weichold, K. & Smith, E. A. (accepted). Peer influence, substance use and leisure: A cross-cultural comparison. SUCHT (German Journal of Addiction Research and Practice).

Palen, L., Smith, E. A., Flisher, A. J., Caldwell, L. L. & Mpofu, E. (accepted). Substance use and sexual risk behavior among South African eighth grade students. Journal of Adolescent Health.

Smith, E. A. & Caldwell, L. L. (accepted). Adapting evidence-based programs to new contexts: What needs to be changed? Journal of Rural Health.