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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 May;25(4):603-615.
doi: 10.1007/s11121-024-01648-z. Epub 2024 Mar 8.

High School Follow-Up of the Dating Matters® RCT: Effects on Teen Dating Violence and Relationship Behaviors

Phyllis Holditch Niolon  1 , Lianne F Estefan  2 , Sarah DeGue  2 , Vi D Le  2 , Allison J Tracy  3 , Colleen Ray  2 , Daniel Bontempo  4 , Todd D Little  4   5 , Alana M Vivolo-Kantor  6 , Natasha Latzman  7 , Bruce Taylor  8 , Andra Tharp  9
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

High School Follow-Up of the Dating Matters® RCT: Effects on Teen Dating Violence and Relationship Behaviors

Phyllis Holditch Niolon et al. Prev Sci. 2024 May.

Erratum in

Abstract

Teen dating violence (TDV) is a significant public health problem that can have lifelong consequences. Using a longitudinal, cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT), this study examines whether the Dating Matters comprehensive prevention model, implemented in middle school, prevented TDV and negative relationship behaviors and promoted positive relationship behaviors in high school (9th-11th grades), when compared with a standard of care intervention. Dating Matters includes programs for sixth to eighth grade youth and their parents, training for school staff, a youth communications program, and policy and data activities implemented in the community. Self-report survey data were collected from students in 46 middle schools that were randomly assigned to condition within site. Students completed two surveys (fall and spring) in each middle school grade and a single survey in the spring of each high school grade. This study examined self-reported TDV perpetration and victimization, use of negative conflict resolution strategies, and positive relationship skills in the high school follow-up. While varying patterns emerged, latent panel models demonstrated significant program effects for all outcomes. Dating Matters students reported 19% reduced risk for TDV perpetration, 24% reduced risk for TDV victimization, 7% reduced risk for use of negative conflict strategies, and 3% more use of positive relationship skills, on average across time and cohort, than standard of care students. On average, Dating Matters, implemented in middle school, continued to be more effective at reducing TDV perpetration, TDV victimization, and use of negative conflict resolution strategies in high school than an evidence-based comparison program.Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01672541.

Keywords: Intervention research; Relationship skills; Teen dating violence.

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Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors have conflicts of interest or financial disclosures. All CDC authors worked for the funding organization during the majority of their participation on the project. Dr. Taylor was funded by CDC through a contract to assist with research design and collect all data (Contract #200-211-40998. Statisticians were funded through a staffing contract (Tracy) and IPAs (Little, Bontempo).

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Dating Matters high school follow-up RCT CONSORT diagram
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Final models demonstrating intervention effects for teen dating violence perpetration across time by sex and cohort. Note. SC= Standard of Care condition. DM= Dating Matters condition. Percent of Maximum Score (POMS) refers to the maximum possible score given the number of items and response categories in a scale, rather than the maximum observed score. In the final models, significant differences between DM and SC are represented by non-overlapping lines, where non-significant differences were constrained to be equal without substantially decreasing model fit
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Final models demonstrating intervention effects for teen dating violence victimization across time by sex and cohort. Note. SC= Standard of Care condition. DM= Dating Matters condition. Percent of Maximum Score (POMS) refers to the maximum possible score given the number of items and response categories in a scale, rather than the maximum observed score. In the final models, significant differences between DM and SC are represented by non-overlapping lines, where non-significant differences were constrained to be equal without substantially decreasing model fit
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Final models demonstrating intervention effects for negative conflict resolution strategies across time by sex and cohort. Note. SC= Standard of Care condition. DM= Dating Matters condition. Percent of Maximum Score (POMS) refers to the maximum possible score given the number of items and response categories in a scale, rather than the maximum observed score. In the final models, significant differences between DM and SC are represented by non-overlapping lines, where non-significant differences were constrained to be equal without substantially decreasing model fit
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Final models demonstrating intervention effects for positive relationship skills across time by sex and cohort. Note. SC= Standard of Care condition. DM= Dating Matters condition. Percent of Maximum Score (POMS) refers to the maximum possible score given the number of items and response categories in a scale, rather than the maximum observed score. In the final models, significant differences between DM and SC are represented by non-overlapping lines, where non-significant differences were constrained to be equal without substantially decreasing model fit
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Minimum, mean, and maximum relative risk reduction for Dating Matters® (DM) vs. standard of care (SC), aggregated by cohort, sex, and time periods. Note: Relative risk reduction represents a ratio of Dating Matters (DM) to standard-of-care (SC) means. Values less than 100 indicate a reduction of risk (e.g., 19 = 19% reduction). TDVP = teen dating violence perpetration. TDVV = teen dating violence victimization. NCRS = negative conflict resolution strategies. PRS = positive relationship skills
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References

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