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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2022

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Research

Effect of the Lights4Violence intervention on the sexism of adolescents in European countries

Authors: Belén Sanz-Barbero, Alba Ayala, Francesca Ieracitano, Carmen Rodríguez-Blázquez, Nicola Bowes, Karen De Claire, Veronica Mocanu, Dana-Teodora Anton-Paduraru, Miriam Sánchez-SanSegundo, Natalia Albaladejo-Blázquez, Ana Sofia Antunes das Neves, Ana Sofia da Silva Queirós, Barbara Jankowiak, Katarzyna Waszyńska, Carmen Vives-Cases

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2022

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Abstract

Background

Sexism results in a number of attitudes and behaviors that contribute to gender inequalities in social structure and interpersonal relationships. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Lights4Violence, an intervention program based on promoting health assets to reduce sexist attitudes in young European people.

Methods

We carried out a quasi-experimental study in a non-probabilistic population of 1146 students, aged 12–17 years. The dependent variables were the difference in the wave 1 and wave 2 values in the subscales of the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory: benevolent sexism (BS) and hostile sexism (HS). The effect of the intervention was evaluated through linear regression analyses stratified by sex. The models were adjusted by baseline subscales scores, socio-demographic and psychological variables.

Results

In girls, we observed a decrease in BS in the intervention group compared to the control group (β = − 0.101; p = 0.006). In the wave2,, BS decreased more in the intervention group compared to the control group in girls with mothers with a low level of education (β = − 0.338; p = 0.001), with a high level of social support (β = − 0.251; p < 0.001), with greater capacity for conflict resolution (β = − 0.201; p < 0.001) and lower levels of aggressiveness (β = − 0.232, p < 0.001). In boys, the mean levels of HS and BH decreased in wave 2 in both the control and intervention groups. The changes observed after the wave 2 were the same in the control group and in the intervention group. No significant differences were identified between both groups.

Conclusions

The implementation of the Lights4Violence was associated with a significant reduction in BS in girls, which highlights the potential of interventions aimed at supporting the personal competencies and social support. It is necessary to reinforce the inclusion of educational contents that promote reflection among boys about the role of gender and the meaning of the attributes of masculinity.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov : NCT03411564. Unique Protocol ID: 776905. Date registered: 26-01-2018.
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Metadata
Title
Effect of the Lights4Violence intervention on the sexism of adolescents in European countries
Authors
Belén Sanz-Barbero
Alba Ayala
Francesca Ieracitano
Carmen Rodríguez-Blázquez
Nicola Bowes
Karen De Claire
Veronica Mocanu
Dana-Teodora Anton-Paduraru
Miriam Sánchez-SanSegundo
Natalia Albaladejo-Blázquez
Ana Sofia Antunes das Neves
Ana Sofia da Silva Queirós
Barbara Jankowiak
Katarzyna Waszyńska
Carmen Vives-Cases
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12925-3

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