Open AccessProject STRONG: an Online, Parent–Son Intervention for the Prevention of Dating Violence among Early Adolescent Boys
Author(s) -
Christie J. Rizzo,
Christopher Houck,
David Barker,
Charlene Collibee,
Erik Hood,
Kelsey Bala
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
prevention science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1573-6695
pISSN - 1389-4986
DOI - 10.1007/s11121-020-01168-6
Subject(s) - health psychology , intervention (counseling) , psychology , randomized controlled trial , developmental psychology , adolescent health , clinical psychology , suicide prevention , injury prevention , public health , poison control , medicine , psychiatry , nursing , surgery , environmental health
Despite broad calls for prevention programs to reduce adolescent dating violence (DV), there is a dearth of programs designed specifically for males. In fact, there are no programs that capitalize on the importance of parents in modeling and influencing the choices their sons make in future romantic relationships. To address these gaps, this study assessed the initial feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of an online, parent-son intervention (STRONG) aimed at reducing DV among early adolescent males. One-hundred nineteen 7th- and 8th-grade boys were recruited, with a parent (90% mothers), from six urban middle schools in the Providence, RI area. Dyads were randomized to either STRONG or a waitlist comparison group. STRONG targets three primary constructs: relationship health knowledge, emotion regulation, and communication. Families randomized to the waitlist were nearly twice as likely at 3 months (OR = 1.92 [0.43-8.60]) and nearly 7 times as likely at 9 months (OR = 6.76 [0.66-69.59]) to endorse any form of DV perpetration (physical, sexual, verbal/emotional) when compared with STRONG families. STRONG also had positive effects on teens' attitudes toward dealing with DV, their emotional awareness, and their short-term regulation skills and was associated with increased discussion of critical relationship topics. Pilot outcomes indicate that an online DV prevention program designed to engage early adolescent boys and parents is both acceptable and engaging. Findings show promise for reducing DV behaviors and theory-driven mediators. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03109184.