Citation

Foshee VA, Bauman KE, Arriaga XB, Helms RW, Koch GG, Linder GF. Am. J. Public Health 1998; 88(1): 45-50.

Affiliation

School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, American Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9584032

PMCID

PMC1508378

Abstract

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=1,886) of the eighth and ninth graders in a rural county completed baseline questionnaires, and 1,700 (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.