Assessing the long-term effects of the Safe Dates program and a booster in preventing and reducing adolescent dating violence victimization and perpetration.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Foshee
Vangie A
VA
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
Bauman
Karl E
KE
Ennett
Susan T
ST
Linder
G Fletcher
GF
Benefield
Thad
T
Suchindran
Chirayath
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003380:Courtship; D019548:Crime Victims; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data