However, there are great differences among the European countries with respect to social policies and cultural scripts about substances (for instance, the application of fines against cigarette smoking in public places is stricter in Northern European countries, alcohol abuse is less likely in the Mediterranean countries). Besides, European countries differ also in the transition towards adolescence and adulthood, which might be more or less delayed according to individual responsibility on one's own development, centrality of the family, social policies in favour of youths and a different pattern of transition between adolescence and adulthood may be related to different processes of alcohol and tobacco use. Therefore the Italian validation of a prevention program developed in Germany seems important for the generalization of its application in other countries.

IPSY (Information + Psychosocial Competence = Protection) is a theory-based program seeking to promote generic life skills (e.g., self efficacy), substance specific skills (e.g., resistance skills), and the prevention of substance misuse (WHO, 1997). The program was implemented in grade 5 (age 11) by teachers via interactive, resource-oriented methods guided by a structured manual. After intensive pilot testing, IPSY was implemented in Germany (Weichold & Silbereisen). Recently, the program was translated, implemented, and evaluated in Italy utilizing a smaller sample (Giannotta & Ciairano). In order to compare process and outcome evaluation (pre-post test comparison) of the program within German and Italian students, the same manual, evaluation methods, and measurements were used.

The results of the German intervention trial (quasi-experimental study, N=1.800 at t1) showed that the program was extremely well implemented by the teachers, indicating that they had profited from the facilitator workshops. There was a high acceptance rate of the program in students and teachers. Moreover, the program increased the student's assertiveness, resistance skills, and school bonding/classroom climate, promoted negative attitudes towards future consumption, and delayed onset of use and reduced consumption rates of drinking (beer, spirits), and smoking (even in those who were already consumers at pre-test). Results of the Italian study (quasi-experimental study, N=181 at t1) showed that the program was also very well implemented and that it was accepted by teachers and students. Positive effects of IPSY were found on intrapersonal skills, resistance skills, and school bonding/classroom climate. Moreover, negative attitudes towards future consumption were promoted, and consumption rates in drinking (wine) were reduced.

In sum, the program (at least on a short term) in both cultural contexts seems to change prominent risk factors for adolescent substance misuse, and to influence consumption behaviour itself. There are commonalities in the findings in Germany and Italy (e.g. successful process evaluation results, positive program effects on the same risk factors like school bonding/classroom climate, and resistance skills). Moreover, differences in the results based on cultural-specific contextual circumstances were found (e.g., no effects on smoking in Italy might be due to generally lower smoking prevalence at this age compared to Germany, or differences in effects depending on the kind of alcoholic drink which might be related to culture-specific preferences and differences in age-typical prevalence rates).

The cross-national validation study of the program IPSY is a project of the University of Torino (Italy). Principal investigators are Prof. Silvia Ciairano and Fabrizia Giannotta. The Italian research team works in close collaboration with the principal investigators of the German study (Dr. Karina Weichold & Prof. Dr. Rainer K. Silbereisen).

This research collaboration aims to accomplish the following future goals: (1) theoretical and methodological reflection and cross-national comparison of evaluation data of the program IPSY, (2) structured training activities (e.g. via tutorials, courses and acquisition of complementary skills in addition to training-through-research), (3) attendance at international conferences and workshops for the dissemination of results and the possibility to exchange ideas and opinions with other scholars in the field of adolescence applied research, and (4) preparation of annual and final reports, of articles for the submission at international journals and of other readings for teachers, health, social and youth workers in the fields of psychology, sociology, school and education.

This study is supported by Philip Morris GmbH in conjunction with the Ministry of Culture of the Federal State of Thuringia, germany, and the University of Torino, Italy.

Publications

• Weichold, K., Giannotta, F., Silbereisen, R. K., Ciairano, S. & Wenzel, V. (2006). Cross-cultural evaluation of a life-skills program to combat adolescent substance misuse. Sucht - German Journal for Addiction Research and Practice, 52(4), 268-278.