Impact and implementation findings from a cluster randomized trial of a youth relationship education curriculum.

Abstract

The current study presents implementation and impact data from a cluster randomized trial of a youth relationship education curriculum. High school students (n=1,135) were randomized at the school level to receive curricula-as-usual or a healthy relationships program delivered by facilitators who were not employed by the high schools. Program evaluators reported high engagement and students indicated high satisfaction with the program, but multilevel models showed no statistically significant impacts on healthy relationship skills, attitudes, and behaviors at three and nine months post-intervention. Strengths and limitations of the research design and program implementation, as well as implications for evaluating youth relationship education more broadly, are discussed.