Dating Matters and the Future of Teen Dating Violence Prevention
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Dating Matters and the Future of Teen Dating Violence Prevention Katrina J. Debnam 1
&
Jeff R. Temple 2
Accepted: 8 September 2020 # Society for Prevention Research 2020
Abstract Despite increased focus and research on violence prevention, rates of teen dating violence (TDV) victimization have remained stable for the last two decades. In response to this major public health concern, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed and evaluated a multicomponent school-based program, Dating Matters, with the goal of reducing teen dating violence perpetration and victimization. This commentary discusses themes from the results of Dating Matters studies included in this special section of Prevention Science. We review the challenges in implementing multicomponent violence prevention programs across the social ecology as well as the promise of success in communities with elevated rates of TDV. Finally, we summarize the implications of these findings for violence prevention research and offer emerging areas where more research is needed. Keywords Dating abuse . Dating violence . Youth violence . Adolescents . Prevention programs
The last two decades have witnessed a deepening in our understanding of multiple forms of violence, as well as an increase in programs designed to prevent the onset or stall the progression of violence. Spurred by traumatic events, political pressure, and increased awareness about the short- and longterm consequences of experiencing violence, research has grown in the areas of partner violence, (cyber)bullying, firearm violence, suicide, and child maltreatment. Through research in each distinct area, trends and patterns have emerged, including a constellation of shared risk and protective factors across several domains of the social ecology. The Dating Matters program leverages the knowledge about these risk and protective factors to prevent teen dating violence and promote healthy relationships. The collection of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded studies presented in this special section of Prevention Science demonstrates how a violence prevention program that addresses
* Katrina J. Debnam [email protected] Jeff R. Temple [email protected] 1
School of Nursing, School of Education & Human Development, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 800782, Charlottesville VA 22908-0782, USA
2
Department of Ob/Gyn, Center for Violence Prevention, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0587, USA
shared risk and protective factors can have affects beyond its intended outcomes. Together, these studies show significant cross-over effects of the intervention on sexual violence, sexual harassment, weapon carrying, substance abuse, delinquency, bullying, cyberbullying, and physical violence. This commentary reviews some of the themes found across these studies and offers considerations and implications for future teen dating violence (TDV) research and prevention programming.
The Promise and Challenge of Comprehensive Violence Program
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