Top

Published in:

01-08-2012

The Efficacy of an Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Program with High-Risk Adolescent Girls: A Preliminary Test

Authors: Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Lisa A. Turner

Published in: Prevention Science | Issue 4/2012

Abstract

This study examined the efficacy of a brief (four session) intimate partner violence (IPV) prevention program (Building a Lasting Love, Langhinrichsen-Rohling et al. 2005) that was designed to reduce the relationship violence of predominantly African American inner-city adolescent girls (n = 72) who were receiving teen pregnancy services. These high-risk girls were randomly assigned to the prevention program (n = 39) or waitlist control (n = 33) conditions. Implementation fidelity was documented. As predicted, girls who successfully completed the program (n = 24) reported significant reductions in their perpetration of psychological abuse toward their baby’s father as compared to the control (n = 23) participants. They also reported experiencing significantly less severe IPV victimization over the course of the program. Preliminary analyses indicated that avoidant attachment to one’s partner may be associated with less program-related change. These findings support the contention that brief IPV prevention programs can be targeted to selected groups of high-risk adolescents.

Ackard, D. M., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2002). Date violence and date rape among adolescents: Associations with disordered eating behaviors and psychological health. Child Abuse and Neglect, 26, 455–473.PubMedCrossRef

Ashley, O. S., & Foshee, V. A. (2005). Adolescent help-seeking for dating violence: Prevalence, sociodemographic correlates, and sources of help. Journal of Adolescent Health, 36, 25–31.PubMedCrossRef

August, G. J., Lee, S. S., Bloomquist, M. L., Realmuto, G. M., & Hektner, J. M. (2003). Dissemination of an evidence-based prevention innovation for aggressive children living in culturally diverse, urban neighborhoods: The Early Risers’ effectiveness study. Prevention Science, 4, 271–286.PubMedCrossRef

Banyard, V. L., & Cross, C. (2008). Consequences of teen dating violence. Violence Against Women, 14, 998–1013.PubMedCrossRef

Bookwala, J., & Zdaniuk, B. (1998). Adult attachment styles and aggressive behavior within dating relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17, 84–100.CrossRef

Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss: Vol. 2. Separation: Anxiety and anger. New York: Basic Books.

Brennan, K. A., Clark, C. L., & Shaver, P. R. (1998). Self-report measurement of adult romantic attachment: An integrative overview. In J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships (pp. 46–76). New York: Guilford.

Brown, R. M. (2002). The development of family violence as a field of study and contributors to family and community violence among low-income fathers. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 7, 499–511.CrossRef

Brown, J. H., & Brown, C. S. (2002). Marital therapy: Concepts and skills for effective practice. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (2006). Understanding teen dating abuse: Fact sheet. Located at www.cdc.gov/injury

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (2008). Strategic direction for intimate partner violence prevention: Promoting respectful, nonviolent intimate partner relationships through individual, community, and societal change. Located at www.cdc.gov/injury

Cornelius, T. L., Sullivan, K. T., Wyngarden, N., & Milliken, J. C. (2009). Participation in prevention programs for dating violence: Beliefs about relationship violence and intention to participate. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24, 1057–1078.PubMedCrossRef

Cox, R. B., & Shirer, K. A. (2009). Caring for my family: A pilot study of a relationship and marriage education program for low-income unmarried parents. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 8, 343–364.CrossRef

Cunradi, C. B., Caetano, R., & Shafer, J. (2002). Socioeconomic predictors of intimate partner violence among white, black, and Hispanic couples in the United States. Journal of Family Violence, 17, 377–389.CrossRef

Dembo, R., & Walters, W. (2003). Innovative approaches to identifying and responding to the needs of high risk youth. Substance Use and Misuse, 38, 1713–1738.PubMedCrossRef

Finkel, E. J., DeWall, C. N., Slotter, E. B., Oaten, M., & Foshee, V. A. (2009). Self-regulatory failure and intimate partner violence perpetration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 97, 483–499.PubMedCrossRef

Fraley, R., & Shaver, P. (2000). Adult romantic attachment: Theoretical developments, emerging controversies, and unanswered questions. Review of General Psychology, 42, 132–154.CrossRef

Fruzzetti, A. E., & Levensky, E. R. (2000). Dialectical behavior therapy with batterers: Rationale and procedures. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 7, 435–447.CrossRef

Gormley, B. (2005). An adult attachment theoretical perspective of gender symmetry in intimate partner violence. Sex Roles, 24, 1367–1386.

Gottfredson, D., Kumpfer, K., Polizzi-Fox, D., Wilson, D., Puryear, V., Beatty, P., et al. (2006). The Strengthening Washington D.C. Families Project: A randomized effectiveness trial of family-based prevention. Prevention Science, 7, 57–74.PubMedCrossRef

Harrykissoon, D. S., Rickert, V. I., & Wiemann, C. M. (2002). Prevalence and patterns of intimate partner violence among adolescent mothers during the postpartum period. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 156, 325–330.PubMed

Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1994). Attachment as an organizational framework for research on close relationships. Psychological Inquiry, 5, 1–22.CrossRef

Hughes, F. M., Stuart, G. L., Gordon, K. C., & Moore, T. M. (2007). Predicting the use of aggressive conflict tactics in a sample of women arrested for domestic violence. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 24, 155–176.CrossRef

Josephson, W. L., & Proulx, J. B. (2008). Violence in young adolescents’ relationships: A path model. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23, 189–208.PubMedCrossRef

Karney, B. R., Beckett, M. K., Collins, R. L., & Shaw, R. (2007). Adolescent romantic relationships as precursors of healthy adult marriages. Arlington, VA: Rand Corporation.

Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J. (2010). Controversies involving gender and intimate partner violence in the United States. Sex Roles, 62, 179–193.CrossRef

Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J., McGowan, M., & Turner, L. (2005). Building a Lasting Love with capitals. Unpublished curriculum, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL.

Linehan, M. M. (1993). Skills training manual for treating borderline personality disorder. New York: Guilford.

Mantooth, C. M., Geffner, R., Franks, D., & Patrick, J. (1987). Family preservation: A treatment manual for reducing couple violence. Tyler: University of Texas at Tyler Press.

Markman, H. J., Blumberg, S. L., & Stanley, S. M. (1989). Prevention and relationship enhancement program, PREP: Leader’s manual. Denver, CO: Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program.

Markman, H. J., Stanley, S., & Blumberg, S. L. (1994). Fighting for your marriage: Positive steps for preventing divorce and preserving a lasting love. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Marquart, B. S., Nannini, D. K., Edwards, R. W., Stanley, L. R., & Wayman, J. C. (2007). Prevalence of dating violence and victimization: Regional and gender differences. Adolescence, 42, 645–657.PubMed

Mikulincer, M., Shaver, P. R., Bar-On, N., & Ein-Dor, T. (2010). The pushes and pulls of close relationships: Attachment insecurities and relational ambivalence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98, 450–468.PubMedCrossRef

Neidig, P. H., & Friedman, D. H. (1984). Spouse abuse: A treatment program for couples. Champaign, IL: Research Press.

O’Leary, K. D., & Slep, A. M. S. (2003). A dyadic longitudinal model of adolescent dating aggression. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 32, 314–327.PubMedCrossRef

O’Leary, K. D., Neidig, P. H., & Heyman, R. E. (1995). Assessment and treatment of partner abuse: A synopsis for the legal profession. Albany Law Review, 58, 1215–1234.

Pittman, A. L., Wolfe, D. A., & Wekerle, C. (2000). Strategies for evaluating dating violence prevention programs. Aggression, Maltreatment, & Trauma, 4, 217–238.CrossRef

Raiford, J. L., Wingood, G. M., & DiClemente, R. J. (2007). Prevalence, incidence, and predictors of dating violence: A longitudinal study of African American female adolescents. Journal of Women’s Health, 16, 822–832.PubMedCrossRef

Rohrbach, L. A., Dent, C. W., Skara, S., Sun, P., & Sussman, S. (2007). Fidelity of implementation in Project Towards No Drug Abuse (TND: A comparison of classroom teachers and program specialists). Prevention Science, 8, 125–132.PubMedCrossRef

Rohrbach, L. A., Gunning, M., Sun, P., & Sussman, S. (2010). The Project Toward No Drug Abuse (TND) dissemination trial: Implementation fidelity and immediate outcomes. Prevention Science, 11, 77–88.PubMedCrossRef

Schumacher, J. A., Feldbau-Kohn, S., Slep, A. M., & Heyman, R. E. (2001). Risk factors for male-to-female partner physical abuse. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 6, 281–352.CrossRef

Shechtman, Z., & Dvir, V. (2006). Attachment style as a predictor of behavior in group counseling with preadolescents. Group Dynamics, 10, 29–42.CrossRef

Silverman, J. G., Raj, A., Mucci, L. A., & Hathaway, J. E. (2001). Dating violence against adolescent girls and associated substance use, unhealthy weight control, sexual risk behavior, pregnancy, and suicidality. Journal of the American Medical Association, 285, 572–579.CrossRef

Smith, P. H., White, J. W., & Holland, L. J. (2003). A longitudinal perspective on dating violence among adolescent and college-age women. American Journal of Public Health, 93, 1104–1109.PubMedCrossRef

Sonis, J., & Langer, M. (2008). Risk and protective factors for recurrent intimate partner violence in a cohort of low-income inner-city women. Journal of Family Violence, 23, 529–538.CrossRef

Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Boney-McCoy, S., & Sugarman, D. B. (1996). The revised Conflict Tactics Scales: Development and preliminary psychometric data. Journal of Family Issues, 17, 283–316.CrossRef

The Multisite Violence Prevention Project. (2008). The Multisite Violence Prevention Project: Impact of a universal school-based violence prevention program on social-cognitive outcomes. Prevention Science, 9, 231–244.CrossRef

Van Epp, J. (1999). How to avoid marrying a jerk: The way to follow your heart without losing your mind. Premarital Interpersonal Training Choices Training Program. Medina: OH

Whitaker, D. J., Morrison, S., Lindquist, C., Hawkins, S. R., O’Neil, J. A., Nesius, A. M., et al. (2006). A critical review of interventions for the primary prevention of perpetration of partner violence. Aggression and Violence Behavior, 11, 151–166.CrossRef

Title: The Efficacy of an Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Program with High-Risk Adolescent Girls: A Preliminary Test
Authors: Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling
Lisa A. Turner
Publication date: 01-08-2012
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Prevention Science / Issue 4/2012
Print ISSN: 1389-4986
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6695
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-011-0240-7

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

The Efficacy of an Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Program with High-Risk Adolescent Girls: A Preliminary Test

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 4/2012

The Development of Dating Violence: What Doesn’t Develop, What Does Develop, How Does it Develop, and What Can We Do About It?

The Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence

Stability of Intimate Partner Violence by Men across 12 Years in Young Adulthood: Effects of Relationship Transitions

Introducing the At-Risk Average Causal Effect with Application to HealthWise South Africa

Dating Matters™: The Next Generation of Teen Dating Violence Prevention

The Causal Mediation Formula—A Guide to the Assessment of Pathways and Mechanisms