Researchers from Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh have published an article that provides the first evidence of the potential benefits of provider-delivered education and a brief counseling intervention in school health centers to address and prevent teen dating violence.
Researchers from Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh have published an article that provides the first evidence of the potential benefits of provider-delivered education and a brief counseling intervention in school health centers to address and prevent teen dating violence.
This National Institute of Justice funded study was conducted at eight school health centers in California where students receive confidential clinical health services.
Researchers surveyed teens ages 14 to 19 for exposure to teen dating violence (including cyberdating abuse), sexual behavior, and careseeking for sexual and reproductive health at their initial visit and again three months later.
Providers and staff in four school health centers received training on how to talk about healthy and unhealthy relationships and received palm-sized brochures about relationship abuse to give to patients. No changes were implemented at the other four sites.
The researchers found the students at the intervention sites were more likely that those at the control sites to recognize sexual coercion. Those from the intervention sites who had experienced abuse showed a greater awareness of teen dating violence and available resources.