School Based Program to Prevent Teen Dating Violence

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Violence
• Interventions: Behavioral: Fourth R

• Registration Number: NCT02909673
• Lead Sponsor: The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

Brief Summary

This study is a school-based cluster randomized trial of the 7th grade version of Fourth R, a promising teen dating violence prevention program, with 24 ethnically diverse middle schools (12 intervention schools, 12 control schools) in one of the nation's largest school districts. Students (N = 3,375) will be the unit of analysis and studied prospectively (baseline, \[post-intervention\], and annually for 3 years) to determine the impact of the program by comparing students in intervention schools with those in control schools.

Detailed Description

The prevalence of teen dating violence (TDV), as well as the adverse mental, physical, and relationship health outcomes associated with it, underscores the need for effective TDV prevention programs, of which there are few.

The study will evaluate a new 7th-grade version of Fourth R, which has been rewritten to be developmentally appropriate and correspond to national health standards for this younger age. The 7th-grade version of Fourth R is innovative because it emphasizes socio-emotional learning, includes lessons on mental health, and addresses technology and cyber TDV. These additional components will strengthen the core social-emotional competencies of youth, competencies that are critical for the creation of healthy relationships and avoidance of unhealthy ones. A TDV prevention program aimed at promoting healthy relationships at this developmentally important age holds tremendous promise.

The primary aim is to determine whether Fourth R reduces students' TDV, as indexed by less perpetration and victimization of physical, sexual, and psychological TDV, relative to students in control schools.

The secondary aims are to determine whether Fourth R, relative to control, 1) improves students' \[relationship quality\], emotional well-being, and increases their acquisition and use of healthy relationship skills, as indexed by improved problem-solving, communication, and conflict resolution skills; 2) ameliorates the modifiable cognitive and behavioral correlates associated with the perpetration and victimization of TDV, as indexed by fewer attitudes justifying dating violence, decreased substance use, risky sexual behavior, fighting, and bullying, increased school connectedness, improved academic performance, and decreased psychological symptoms; and \[3) improves school climate as indexed by student, teacher, and staff reports of school environment as it relates to healthy relationships and TDV; and by reductions in school disciplinary actions related to violence, substance use, and academic failure\]. Prespecified differences by gender and ethnicity will be examined, as well as the acquisition and utilization of various program components.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2016-09-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-09-16
• Study First Posted: 2016-09-21
• Study Start: 2018-01-18
• Status Verified: 2021-10
• Primary Completion: 2021-10-03
• Study Completion: 2021-10-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-10-11
• Last Update Posted: 2021-10-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 3028

Inclusion Criteria

• Attending 7th grade health class in Houston area middle schools

Exclusion Criteria

• n/a

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Fourth R	Fourth R	Fourth R: 27 lesson curriculum addressing youth risk and health promoting behaviors

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reduction of student TDV	3 years	determine whether Fourth R reduces students' TDV, as indexed by less perpetration and victimization of physical, sexual, and psychological TDV, relative to students in control schools

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Emotional Well-being	3 years	Determine if Fourth R improves relationship quality, emotional well-being, and increases participant acquisition and use of healthy relationship skills, as indexed by improved problem-solving, communication, and conflict resolution skills
Cognitive & Behavioral Correlates	3 years	Determine if Fourth R ameliorates the modifiable cognitive and behavioral correlates associated with the perpetration and victimization of TDV, as indexed by fewer attitudes justifying dating violence, decreased substance use, risky sexual behavior, fighting, and bullying, increased school connectedness, improved academic performance, and decreased psychological symptoms
School Climate	3 years	Determine if Fourth R improves school climate as indexed by student, teacher, and staff reports of school environment as it relates to healthy relationships and TDV; and by reductions in school disciplinary actions related to violence, substance use, and academic failure

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Fort Bend Independent School District; 🇺🇸 Sugar Land, Texas, United States

Houston Independent School District; 🇺🇸 Houston, Texas, United States