Abstract
Teen dating violence is a public health concern that can lead to short- and long-term mental and physical health consequences, including depression, anxiety, risky behaviors, and unhealthy future relationships. Research shows that social and structural determinants of health, such as racism, low socio-economic status, and neighborhood conditions, may predispose certain communities to violence. To better understand methods to reduce TDV among ethnically and economically diverse populations, we used a trauma-informed race equity lens to adapt an efficacious prevention program known as Fourth R. This universal program has been shown to reduce some dating violence, substance use, and risky sexual behaviors, but there remains room for improvement. Specifically, more attention to trauma and the importance of societal risk and protective factors may improve the program’s effectiveness. Thus, focus group discussions were conducted with students and we then adapted Fourth R lessons specific to trauma, racism, and discrimination. Major themes discussed are that Fourth R and other prevention programs should focus attention on social and structural issues, such as racism and discrimination.
Highlights
Academic Editor: Estefanía EstévezReceived: July 2021Accepted: September 2021Published: 21 September 2021Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.Teen dating violence (TDV) is an increasingly recognized public health concern linked to short- and long-term mental and behavioral health consequences, such as depression, anxiety, risky sexual behavior, substance use, and unhealthy relationships [1,2,3]
To maximize comfort and privacy, community-based participatory research (CBPR) focus group discussions (FGDs) occurred at a time and a location that were both convenient for participants without school teachers or administrators present
Following CBPR best practices, collaborators continued to meet with students for one hour each week for two consecutive school years to inform how the healthy relationships curriculum could be best implemented in schools [12]
Summary
Academic Editor: Estefanía EstévezReceived: July 2021Accepted: September 2021Published: 21 September 2021Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.Teen dating violence (TDV) is an increasingly recognized public health concern linked to short- and long-term mental and behavioral health consequences, such as depression, anxiety, risky sexual behavior, substance use, and unhealthy relationships [1,2,3]. In the US, over twenty states have laws requiring school districts to incorporate TDV prevention programming; these mandates typically come with little or no funding and little guidance on implementation [4]. Existing TDV prevention programs generally lack lessons that incorporate structural and social factors, such as childhood trauma, racism, and discrimination [5]. The aim of this brief report is to present pilot data related to the augmentation process of a healthy relationship program based on student perceptions of trauma, racism, and discrimination.
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