Development and validation of the acceptance of dating violence questionnaire

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire to measure the acceptance of dating violence among young Chileans, that evaluates both victimization and perpetration perspectives. Based on the Intimate Partner Violence Attitudes Scale, items were developed to fulfill these criteria and were refined through experts’ revisions and participant focus groups. The 30-item questionnaire created (with 15 similar items to measure both perpetration and victimization) was applied to 1120 Chilean high school and university students (14–27 years old, 59.9% females). Results of factorial analysis showed the questionnaire had an adequate fit with the correlated three-factor model (control, emotional violence, and physical violence) for each version (victimization and perpetration). Reliability analyses indicated an adequate internal consistency, and correlations with dating violence provide evidence on its concurrent validity. Results also showed that boys/men accepted more dating violence than girls/women, and adolescents than emerging adults.

DRIVEN to Change Attitudes Toward Dating Violence: Outcomes From a 6-Month Follow-Up Study

While dating violence (DV) is a significant issue present on college campuses among students of all ethnic groups, research suggests that DV is preventable. As Latino representation at colleges increases, it is important to find DV prevention programs addressing specific sociocultural characteristics of this ethnic group. We created the DRIVEN (Dating Relationships Involving Violence End Now) program to fill a significant need for DV programming tailored to Latino college students. This study examines the durability of initial positive outcomes over a 6-month period. To do so, we conducted a 6-month follow-up with a total of 49 Latino college students attending a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) located on the U.S.-Mexico border. Results suggest DRIVEN outcomes were maintained on the following variables: dating violence attitudes, dating violence victimization and perpetration, and marianismo. Implications for these findings are discussed in the context of implementing group-based programs with college students.

Development of a program to prevent sexual violence among teens in Japan: education using DVD video teaching materials and web-based learning

Background This study aimed to develop an education system using DVD video-based teaching materials or web-based learning to reduce sexual violence among teens in Japan. Methods During the first stage, June 2018 to March 2019, an education program using DVD video teaching materials was carried out at three high schools and four universities with research consent from the director of the facility. From 1337 high school students and first- and second-year university students, subjects in their teen years were targeted for analysis. A survey was conducted at baseline and after the DVD video teaching. During the second stage, November 2019 to March 2020, web-based learning using improved video teaching materials was developed and carried out. From the adolescents who participated in the web-based learning, subjects in their teen years were targeted for analysis. A survey was conducted at baseline and after the web-based learning. Results In the first stage, 876 students consented to and participated in the education using DVD video teaching materials and baseline and after surveys (collection rate 65.5%). Among these, the number of respondents in their teens both baseline and after education was 705 persons (valid response rate 80.4%). In the second stage, the number of respondents in their teens both baseline and after education was 250 respondents in their teens who received web-based learning using the improved video teaching materials (valid response rate 87.1%). The improvement effect of the two programs was observed in attitudes that lead to physical violence, attitudes that lead to mental violence, attitudes that promote healthy conflict resolution, and dangerous attitudes that lead to sexual violence from persons in the community or through the Internet. The web-based learning program achieved an improvement of preventive attitudes toward sexual violence. Conclusions The education program using DVD video teaching materials or web-based learning may help prevent sexual violence among teens in Japan.

Adolescent Peers and Prevention: Network Patterns of Sexual Violence Attitudes and Bystander Actions

Peer sexual violence is a significant social problem that affects adolescents and can lead to negative mental health and developmental consequences. Peers are a significant source of influence for adolescent behavior. For example, recent studies show training teens to be bystanders can be an effective prevention strategy to reduce peer violence and harassment. Peers can also promote risky behaviors including substance use and violence. The current study examined how sexual violence-specific risk and protective attitudes (e.g., denial of peer sexual violence and positive peer prevention norms) and behaviors (alcohol use and bystander actions to prevent peer sexual violence) clustered within peer networks cross-sectionally and over time. Participants were 1,499 7th−10th graders who took surveys during an academic year and who reported having opportunity to take action as bystanders to peer sexual violence. Participants took surveys 6 months apart online in schools. Questions included nomination of best friends to capture information about peer networks. Social network analyses indicated that there was weak but significant clustering of positive prevention attitudes such as bystander denial and marginal clustering on reactive bystander behaviors to address sexual assault. For comparison, alcohol use and academic grades were analyzed and found to also cluster in networks in these data. These findings suggest that for early adolescents, peer bystander training may be influential for some key bystander attitudes and reactive sexual violence prevention behaviors as individual behaviors are not independent of those of their friends.

Domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: Attitudes of Croatian students

The coronavirus pandemic pose tremendous challenge for all countries of the world. People who experience domestic violence deserve special attention in such social circumstances. The purpose of this paper is to present research on students? attitudes about domestic violence in pandemic conditions. In a sample of 334 students from Croatia we analyzed their acceptance of myths about domestic violence, attitudes about domestic violence in pandemic conditions, and the correlation between the acceptance of myths and attitudes about domestic violence. The results indicate the following: students accept myths about domestic violence at the lesser level, they believe that measures to combat coronavirus have led to an increase in all analyzed forms of domestic violence, they do not think that the policingin those cases is well or that victims receive sufficient help and support in pandemics. Differences in students? attitudes towards gender and knowledge of the victim were found, as well as the correlation between attitudes and basic political orientation. The correlations between students? attitudes and acceptance of myths about domestic violence were also established.