Citation
Foshee, Vangie Ann; Bauman, Karl E.; Arriaga, Ximena B.; Helms, Russell W.; Koch, Gary G.; & Linder, George Fletcher (1998). An Evaluation of Safe Dates, an Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention Program. American Journal of Public Health, 88(1), 45-50. PMCID: PMC1508378Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the effects of the Safe Dates program on the primary and secondary prevention of adolescent dating violence.METHODS: Fourteen schools were randomly allocated to treatment conditions. Eighty percent (n=1886) of the eighth and ninth graders in a rural county completed baseline questionnaires, and 1700 (90%) completed follow-up questionnaires.
RESULTS: Treatment and control groups were comparable at baseline. In the full sample at follow-up, less psychological abuse, sexual violence, and violence perpetrated against the current dating partner were reported in treatment than in control schools. In a subsample of adolescents reporting no dating violence at baseline (a primary prevention subsample), there was less initiation of psychological abuse in treatment than in control schools. In a subsample of adolescents reporting dating violence at baseline (a secondary prevention subsample), there was less psychological abuse and sexual violence perpetration reported at follow-up in treatment than in control schools. Most program effects were explained by changes in dating violence norms, gender stereotyping, and awareness of services.
CONCLUSIONS: The Safe Dates program shows promise for preventing dating violence among adolescents.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/ajph.88.1.45Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
1998Journal Title
American Journal of Public HealthAuthor(s)
Foshee, Vangie AnnBauman, Karl E.
Arriaga, Ximena B.
Helms, Russell W.
Koch, Gary G.
Linder, George Fletcher