Citation

Foshee VA, Bauman KE, Ennett ST, Linder GF, Benefield T, Suchindran C. Am. J. Public Health 2004; 94(4): 619-624.

Affiliation

Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599-7440, USA. foshee@email.unc.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, American Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15054015

PMCID

PMC1448308

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study determined 4-year postintervention effects of Safe Dates on dating violence, booster effects, and moderators of the program effects. METHODS: We gathered baseline data in 10 schools that were randomly allocated to a treatment condition. We collected follow-up data 1 month after the program and then yearly thereafter for 4 years. Between the 2- and 3-year follow-ups, a randomly selected half of treatment adolescents received a booster. RESULTS: Compared with controls, adolescents receiving Safe Dates reported significantly less physical, serious physical, and sexual dating violence perpetration and victimization 4 years after the program. The booster did not improve the effectiveness of Safe Dates. CONCLUSIONS: Safe Dates shows promise for preventing dating violence but the booster should not be used.