This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the efficacy of programs at increasing knowledge about dating violence, changing attitudes, increasing bystander behaviors, and reducing incidents of dating violence perpetration and victimization.
Results of a meta-analysis examining interventions aimed at increasing knowledge about dating violence indicate that dating violence prevention programs are effective at improving knowledge, attitudes, and some behaviors, providing support for the continued implementation of these programs with adolescent populations. Future research should investigate the impact of specific program content and long-term behavioral outcomes. This study examines the efficacy of programs designed to increase knowledge about dating violence, change attitudes, impact bystander behaviors, and reduce incidents of dating violence. A systematic search yielded 38 studies contributing 73 independent effect sizes. Studies were pooled by outcome measure, and ten moderators were used to examine the impacts of program and study characteristics. Prevention programs had a significant, positive impact on measures of knowledge (ES = 0.566, z = 3.59), attitudes (ES = 0.191, z = 3.88), and violence perpetration (ES = .157, z = 3.11), but did not significantly impact experiences of victimization or bystander behaviors. (Published Abstract Provided)