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Looking for an easy way to get caught up on the latest in teen dating violence research? Up-to-date, empirical research has a critical role to play in the practice of Teen Dating Violence intervention programs, and PREVNet aims to support ease-of-access to this research.

A number of cutting-edge research articles have been selected for their direct applicability to our Community of Practice projects, and two-page summaries have been generated from each article. Each month, we’ll feature four of these plain-language summaries in a blog post. Whether you are a part of PREVNet’s Community of Practice Addressing Youth Dating Violence, or a parent, caregiver, or educator, these research summaries will provide you with the crucial information needed for teen dating violence awareness and intervention.

You can view all of our research summaries here, or keep reading to see the featured articles for July.

Gender Differences in On- and Offline Violence

This research explores the overlap of gender and setting in experiences of teen dating violence and bullying behavior. Although youth violence behaviour – like dating violence and bullying – can look similar across circumstances, this study argues that various forms of aggression should be studied in a more comprehensive manner, such as how a form of violence in one setting relates to another form of violence in another situation. This study highlights the need for developing youth violence prevention programs that have gender specific components.

Read the two-page summary here.

Full Reference: Semenza, D. C. (2019). Gender differences in the victim-offender relationship for on- and offline youth violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 00(0), 1-22.

Exploring Gender-Transformative Programming

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends gender-transformative approaches as an important violence prevention strategy. As these programs are relatively new to the field of violence prevention, it is important to explore what is meant by gender-transformative programming. This article explores how theories of social norms are used in gender-transformative programs, and explores the role of trauma during childhood, homophobic bullying, and the contribution of feminist understandings in relation to gender-transformative programing.

Read the two-page summary here.

Full Reference: Brush, L. D., & Miller, E. (2019). Trouble in paradigm: “gender transformative” programming in violence prevention. Violence Against Women, 25(14), 1635-1656.

Exploring the Effects of Dating Matters on Relationship Behaviours

While most teen dating violence prevention programs are developed for mid- to late-adolescents, early adolescents may also experience dating violence, or may experience dating violence as they get older. It is important to implement prevention programs before adolescents begin dating, so they have the knowledge and skills they need when they start sexual and romantic relationships. This study examined a comprehensive TDV prevention program called Dating Matters to determine if the DM program did a better job of inhibiting negative relationship behaviours and attitudes and encouraging positive relationship behaviours among middle school students

Read the two-page summary here.

Full Reference: Niolon P.H., Vivolo-Kantor, A.M., Tracy, A.J., Latzman, N.E., Little, T.D., DeGue, S., Lang, K.M., Estefan, L.F., Ghazarian, S.R., McIntosh, W.L.K., Taylor, B., Johnson, L.L., Kuoh, H., Burton, T., Fortson, B., Mumford, E.A., Nelson, S.C., Joseph, H., Valle, L.A., Tharp, A.T. (2019). An rct of Dating Matters: Effects on teen dating violence and relationship behaviours. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 57(1), 13-23.

Patterns of Electronic Dating Violence in Middle School Students

This study explores the prevalence of electronic teen dating violence perpetration and victimization among middle school students, and whether the prevalence differs by gender. It examines developmental changes in electronic teen dating violence over time, and whether the change varies by gender.

Read the two-page summary here.

Full Reference: Cutbush, S., Williams, J., Miller, S., Gibbs, D., & Clinton-Sherrod, M. (2018). Longitudinal Patterns of Electronic Teen Dating Violence Among Middle School Students. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 886260518758326