Research Projects

keepin' it REAL /Mantente REAL Jalisco Pilot Test

Target Population:
457 adolescents in the equivalent of US 8th grade, aged 12-15 years

Project Team:

Flavio F. Marsiglia, PhD; Stephen S. Kulis, PhD and Bertha L. Nuño-Gutierrez, PhD

Project Status: Completed

In collaboration with the University of Guadalajara and the Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social in Jalisco (IMSS), Mexico, GCAHR conducted a pilot study to test the feasibility of implementing keepin’ it REAL in Mexico.

Primary Health Outcome

To determine if this middle school-based curriculum would need adaptation to the Mexican population, and estimate its substance use prevention effects sizes.

Approach

Two public middle schools in Guadalajara were randomized into two implementation and control/comparison conditions. In the implementing school, regular teachers delivered the Spanish-translated version of keepin’ it REAL (Mantente REAL).

Key Findings

Students who participated in Mantente REAL reported relative reductions in alcohol and cigarette use in the short-term, and reduced alcohol and marijuana use long-term. Effects were gendered: females showed the strongest effects on alcohol use, and males showed stronger effects for marijuana use.

Publications and Presentations

Booth, J. M., Marsiglia, F. F., Nuño-Gutierrez, B. L., & Garcia-Pérez, M. (2014). The association between engaging in romantic relationships and Mexican adolescent substance use offers: Exploring gender differences. Substance Use & Misuse, 49(11), 1480-1490. doi: 10.3109/10826084.2014.913627

Kulis, S. S., Booth, J. M., & Becerra, D. (2016). Drug resistance strategies of early adolescents in Mexico: Gender differences in the influence of drug offers and relationship to the offeror. Substance Use and Misuse, 51(3), 370-382. doi:10.3109/10826084.2015.1110171 PMCID: PMC4856063

Kulis, S. S., Booth, J. M., & Becerra, D. (2018). Estrategias de resistencia al consumo de drogas en adolescentes mexicanos: el rol del género. In C. O. Socias and R. P. Gordaliza (Eds.), Género, adolescencia y drogas: Prevenir el riesgo desde la familia, (pp. 37-54). Barcelona: Octaedro.

Marsiglia, F. F., Kulis, S., Booth, J. M., Nuño-Gutierrez, B. L., & Robbins, D. E. (2015). Long-term effects of the keepin’ it REAL model program in Mexico: Substance use trajectories of Guadalajara middle school students. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 36(2), 93-104. doi: 10.1007/s10935-014-0380-1 PMCID: PMC4503325

Marsiglia, F. F., Booth, J. M., Ayers, S. L., Nuño-Gutierrez, B. L., Kulis, S., & Hoffman, S. (2014). Short-term effects on substance use of the keepin' it REAL pilot prevention program: Linguistically adapted for youth in Jalisco, Mexico. Prevention Science, 15(5), 694-704. doi: 10.1007/s11121-013-0421-7 PMCID: PMC3864112

Martinez, M., Marsiglia, F. F., Ayers, S. L., & Nuño-Gutiérrez, B. L. (2015). Substance use, religion and Mexican adolescent intentions to use drugs. In Friedman, B. & Merrick, J. (Eds.). Public health, social work and health inequalities (pp. 131-146). New York: Nova Publishers.

Martinez, M. J., Marsiglia, F. F., Ayers, S. L., & Nuno-Gutierrez, B. L. (2016). Mexican adolescents' intentions to use drugs: Gender differences in the protective effects of religiosity. International Public Health Journal, 8(2), 200.