A school based programme reduced dating violence in adolescents
Question Can a dating violence prevention programme (Safe Dates) prevent and reduce instances of dating violence in adolescents?
Design
Randomised controlled trial with follow up 1 month after programme completion.
Setting
14 schools in rural North Carolina, USA.
Participants
1886 of 2344 students who were enrolled in the eighth or ninth grade in September 1994 completed a baseline questionnaire. 1700 students (90.1%) (mean age 13.8 y, 51% girls, 77% white) completed the follow up questionnaire.
Intervention
The 14 schools were stratified by grade and matched on school size. For each matched pair, schools were allocated to the intervention or control group. Students in intervention schools were exposed to school activities and community activities, whereas students in control schools were exposed to community activities only. School activities included a theatre production performed by peers; a curriculum involving 10 interactive 45 minute sessions that addressed dating violence norms, sex stereotyping, and conflict management skills; and a poster contest in …
