Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Jan;62(1):e45-e55.
doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.06.021. Epub 2021 Nov 10.

Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Prevention Among Youth: A Community Guide Systematic Review

Ramona K C Finnie  1 , Devon L Okasako-Schmucker  2 , Leigh Buchanan  3 , Denise Carty  4 , Holly Wethington  2 , Shawna L Mercer  5 , Kathleen C Basile  6 , Sarah DeGue  6 , Phyllis Holditch Niolon  6 , Jennifer Bishop  7 , Tisha Titus  8 , Samia Noursi  9 , Shavon Artis Dickerson  7 , Daniel Whitaker  10 , Susan Swider  11 , Patrick Remington  12 ; Community Preventive Services Task Force
Affiliations

Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Prevention Among Youth: A Community Guide Systematic Review

Ramona K C Finnie et al. Am J Prev Med. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Introduction: Intimate partner violence and sexual violence are widespread and often occur early in life. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of interventions for primary prevention of intimate partner violence and sexual violence among youth.

Methods: Studies were identified from 2 previous systematic reviews and an updated search (January 2012-June 2016). Included studies were implemented among youth, conducted in high-income countries, and aimed to prevent or reduce the perpetration of intimate partner violence or sexual violence. In 2016-2017, Guide to Community Preventive Services (Community Guide) methods were used to assess effectiveness as determined by perpetration, victimization, or bystander action. When heterogeneity of outcomes prevented usual Community Guide methods, the team systematically applied criteria for favorability (statistically significant at p<0.05 or approaching significance at p<0.10) and consistency (75% of results in the same direction).

Results: A total of 28 studies (32 arms) met inclusion and quality of execution criteria. Interventions used combinations of teaching healthy relationship skills, promoting social norms to protect against violence, or creating protective environments. Overall, 18 of 24 study arms reported favorable results on the basis of the direction of effect for decreasing perpetration; however, favorability for bystander action diminished with longer follow-up. Interventions did not demonstrate consistent results for decreasing victimization. A bridge search conducted during Fall 2020 confirmed these results.

Discussion: Interventions for the primary prevention of intimate partner violence and sexual violence are effective in reducing perpetration. Increasing bystander action may require additional follow-up as effectiveness diminishes over time. Findings may inform researchers, school personnel, public health, and other decision makers about effective strategies to prevent intimate partner violence and sexual violence among youth.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

No financial disclosures were reported by the authors of this paper.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA flowchart.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) . National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/data-sources/nisvs/index.html. Updated July 19, 2021. Accessed February 1, 2018.
    1. Breiding MJ, Basile BK, Smith SG, Black MC, Mahendra RR. Intimate partner violence surveillance: uniform definitions and recommended data elements, version 2.0. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2015. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/ipv/intimatepart-nerviolence.pdf. Published 2015. Accessed February 1, 2018.
    1. Basile KC, Smith SS, Breiding MJ, Black MC, Mahendra RR. Sexual violence surveillance: uniform definitions and recommended data elements, version 2.0. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Published 2014. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/sv_surveillance_-definitionsl.... Accessed February 1, 2018.
    1. Basile KC, Clayton HB, DeGue S, et al. Interpersonal violence victimization among high school students - Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019. MMWR Suppl. 2020;69(1):28–37. 10.15585/mmwr.su6901a4. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Eaton AA, Stephens DP. Chapter 10 - adolescent dating violence among ethnically diverse youth. In: Wolfe DA, Temple JR, eds. Adolescent Dating Violence: Theory, Research, and Prevention. Miami, FL: Elsevier Academic Press, 2018:233–260. 10.1016/b978-0-12-811797-2.00010-4. - DOI

Publication types