Partner Violence Prevention for Middle School Boys: A Dyadic Web-Based Intervention
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Intimate Partner Violence
- Sponsor
- Northeastern University
- Enrollment
- 119
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in General Aggressive Behavior From Baseline to 9 Months
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 6 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This study will develop and test a web-based intervention to enhance emotion regulation skills and parent-son relationship communication to decrease adolescent boys' risk for dating violence involvement as well as attitudes supporting relationship aggression.
Detailed Description
Over the past ten years dating violence (DV) has been recognized as a significant public health problem affecting adolescents. Emerging data suggest that boys and girls have different developmental trajectories toward violence and therefore prevention programs that target their unique pathways to DV are needed. Despite this need, there is a relative dearth of such gender-informed programs for early adolescent boys. This research project aims to prevent the emergence of DV perpetration/ victimization among boys by developing a web-based intervention that is informed by research on gender-specific pathways to violence and harnesses the influence of parents during the early adolescent years. Among boys, the perpetration of delinquency-related violence and attitudes supporting violence has been found to predict later perpetration of DV. Thus, gender-informed interventions designed to prevent DV in boys need to target skills that underlie violent behavior and attitudes. The goal of this study is to develop and test a web-based intervention to enhance emotion regulation skills and parent-son relationship communication to prevent DV. Development and testing will occur in three phases. In the Development Phase, the intervention modules will be developed and iteratively reviewed by both a panel of experts familiar with the research in the field as well as an advisory group of parents and teens from the target population. In the Acceptability Testing Phase, testing will be conducted to assess acceptability and feasibility, and this will be followed by revisions to the intervention program based on feedback and observations. During the Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) Phase, 120 families will complete the intervention program in an observed setting, to ensure fidelity to intervention dosing. Parents and adolescents will complete the program together and then complete assessments of aggressive and risk behaviors, parent-child communication, and emotion regulation at baseline, 3-,and 9-month follow-ups.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •adolescent enrolled in the 7th or 8th grade,
- •parent/legal guardian and teen are English speaking,
- •parent/legal guardian is willing to provide consent for the adolescent to participate in the study,
- •adolescent is willing to provide assent for their own participation.
Exclusion Criteria
- •observable cognitive or developmental delays that would preclude participation,
- •residing with participating parent/guardian less than half time
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in General Aggressive Behavior From Baseline to 9 Months
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 9 months
The Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) is a 34-item questionnaire that rates five types of aggression (physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, hostility, and indirect aggression). Item responses ranged from 1-5, with 1=Not at all like me, 2=A little like me, 3=Somewhat like me, 4=Very much like me, 5=Completely like me. Higher scores indicate more aggression.
Change in Dating Violence (DV) Perpetration From Baseline to 9 Months
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 9 months
The Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory (CADRI) is a behavioral measure of abuse perpetration and victimization. It was completed by teens in reference to conflict or disagreement with a current or recent dating partner. Each question is asked twice, first regarding perpetration and, again in relation to victimization producing a perpetration and a victimization sub scale. Percentages include teens endorsing any perpetration or victimization.
Change in Attitudes About Relationship Violence From Baseline to 9 Months
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 9 months
Adolescent Relationship Violence Questionnaire (ARVQ) is a 22-item questionnaire is a composite measure developed to assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, and methods of dealing with relationship violence. Item responses ranged from 1-4 with 1=strongly agree, 2=agree, 3=disagree 4=strongly disagree. Higher scores indicate more favorable attitudes.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in Emotion Regulation Skills Baseline to 9 Months(Baseline, 3 months, 9 months)
- Change in Distress Tolerance From Baseline to 9 Months(Baseline, 3 months, 9 months)
- Change in Emotion Regulation Skills From Baseline to 9 Months(Baseline, 3 months, and 9 months)
- Change in Parent-Adolescent Communication From Baseline to 9 Months(Baseline, 3 months, and 9 months)