Prevention of the Dating Violence: Intervention with Youngsters in School Context
- Resource Type
- article
- Authors
- Marlene Matos; Carla Machado; Sónia Caridade; Maria João Silva
- Source
- Psicologia, Vol 8, Iss 1, Pp 55-75 (2006)
- Subject
- prevention
dating violence
cultural beliefs and attitudes
Psychology
BF1-990
- Language
- English
Spanish; Castilian
Portuguese
- ISSN
- 1516-3687
1980-6906
Research on intimate violence has pointed out the importance of prevention in younger populations. Two experiences of dating violence prevention are described. Aims: (1) promoting the acquisition of knowledge about this problem, (2) enabling youths to recognize abuse in close relationships; (3) producing changes in cultural beliefs that support violence; (4) providing generic abilities to manage situations of dating violence; (5) informing about resources in the community. The beliefs of the participants were assessed in two moments - pre-test and post-test - and in one of the programs it was also possible to include a follow-up evaluation. The qualitative evaluation of the program made by the participants was also considered. The evaluation of these interventions shows that the intervention reduces the level of tolerance towards violence in both males and females. At the end of the paper major limitations are discussed, as well strategies to minimize these problems in future research.