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State-level teen dating violence education laws and teen dating violence victimisation in the USA: a cross-sectional analysis of 36 states.

ABSTRACT: Approximately 10% of teens report experiencing sexual dating violence (SDV) or physical dating violence (PDV), collectively represented as teen dating violence (TDV). This study examines the association between laws incorporating TDV education in schools on TDV prevalence. TDV prevalence was estimated using data contributed by 36 states that participated in the 2015 Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance Survey (YRBS). Presence of TDV laws was determined using Westlaw, a legal search engine. The adjusted odds of TDV victimisation was estimated by the presence or absence of a state law and length of time the law was in effect using hierarchical regression modelling, clustering on state, controlling for individual-level and state-level covariates and incorporating the YRBS-weighted survey design. After controlling for individual-level and state-level covariates, the presence of a law was not associated with TDV (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.97; 95% CI 0.88 to 1.06), PDV (aOR 1.12; 95% CI 0.95 to 1.33) or SDV (aOR 0.99; 95% CI 0.91 to 1.08). These odds did not differ across the length of time the policies were in effect. This study suggest that just the presence of a law incorporating TDV education in schools is not associated with reduced TDV victimisation but further research is needed to understand the association of the content of these laws and their implementation on TDV victimisation.

SUBMITTER: Harland KK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8080304 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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State-level teen dating violence education laws and teen dating violence victimisation in the USA: a cross-sectional analysis of 36 states.

Harland Karisa K KK Vakkalanka J Priyanka JP Peek-Asa Corinne C Saftlas Audrey F AF

Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention 20200416

<h4>Background</h4>Approximately 10% of teens report experiencing sexual dating violence (SDV) or physical dating violence (PDV), collectively represented as teen dating violence (TDV). This study examines the association between laws incorporating TDV education in schools on TDV prevalence.<h4>Methods</h4>TDV prevalence was estimated using data contributed by 36 states that participated in the 2015 Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance Survey (YRBS). Presence of TDV laws was determined using Westl ...[more]

PMID: 32299839

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Project description:ImportanceTeen dating violence (TDV) is widespread and has adverse consequences across the life course. Many US states are actively seeking strategies to prevent and address TDV in schools, including enactment and implementation of TDV laws. These state laws are upstream, system-level interventions that lay the foundation for an array of downstream targeted interventions to be deployed in schools. Despite these laws gaining momentum in the past decade, there has been minimal research examining their content and variability.ObjectiveTo assess the content and comprehensiveness of US state laws addressing prevention of and response to TDV in secondary schools.Design, setting, and participantsA team of public health and legal researchers used systematic policy surveillance methods to develop a comprehensive database of state laws addressing TDV in schools in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia (referred to hereinafter as "states") in effect as of September 30, 2020. Using LexisNexis and state legislature websites, state laws (statutes and administrative codes) were identified.Main outcomes and measuresComponents for each law were coded within 5 categories: scope, prevention education, policy, response, and implementation.ResultsOverall, 38 states (74.5%) had at least 1 law addressing TDV in secondary schools and 13 states (25.5%) did not. Fewer than half of states with a law (15 of 38 [39.5%]) defined TDV. All 38 states addressed prevention education, with 29 (76.3%) requiring and 9 (23.7%) encouraging these efforts. Prevention education was largely for students in most states (35 [92.1%]), but some states also required school staff (18 [47.4%]) and parents (8 [21.1%]) to receive prevention education. Fewer than half of states required (14 [36.8%]) or encouraged (3 [7.9%]) school districts to develop a policy addressing TDV. Very few states included requirements for how schools must respond to TDV incidents. Fewer than a third of states designated an individual to coordinate TDV efforts (12 [31.6%]), included a funding provision in their laws for TDV programs and policies (10 [26.3%]), and included explicit consequences for noncompliance with TDV laws (12 [31.6%]).Conclusions and relevanceThis cross-sectional study found that most US states had laws addressing TDV in schools, but there was significant variation in the content and comprehensiveness of the laws. These findings can inform the development of more comprehensive laws on TDV that may ultimately reduce such incidents.

Project description:IntroductionTeen dating violence is a serious public health problem with few effective prevention strategies. This study examines whether the Dating Matters comprehensive prevention model, compared with a standard of care intervention, prevented negative relationship behaviors and promoted positive relationship behaviors.Study designThis longitudinal, cluster-RCT compared the effectiveness of Dating Matters with standard of care across middle school. Standard of care was an evidence-based teen dating violence prevention curriculum (Safe Dates) implemented in eighth grade.Setting/participantsForty-six middle schools in high-risk urban neighborhoods in four U.S. cities were randomized. Schools lost to follow-up were replaced with new schools, which were independently randomized (71% school retention). Students were surveyed in fall and spring of sixth, seventh, and eighth grades (2012-2016). The analysis sample includes students from schools implementing Dating Matters or standard of care for >2 years who started sixth grade in the fall of 2012 or 2013 and had dated (N=2,349 students, mean age 12 years, 49% female, and 55% black, non-Hispanic, 28% Hispanic, 17% other).InterventionDating Matters is a comprehensive, multicomponent prevention model including classroom-delivered programs for sixth to eighth graders, training for parents of sixth to eighth graders, educator training, a youth communications program, and local health department activities to assess capacity and track teen dating violence-related policy and data.Main outcome measuresSelf-reported teen dating violence perpetration and victimization, use of negative conflict resolution strategies, and positive relationship skills were examined as outcomes. Imputation and analyses were conducted in 2017.ResultsLatent panel models demonstrated significant program effects for three of four outcomes; Dating Matters students reported 8.43% lower teen dating violence perpetration, 9.78% lower teen dating violence victimization, and 5.52% lower use of negative conflict resolution strategies, on average across time points and cohorts, than standard of care students. There were no significant effects on positive relationship behaviors.ConclusionsDating Matters demonstrates comparative effectiveness, through middle school, for reducing unhealthy relationship behaviors, such as teen dating violence and use of negative conflict resolution strategies, relative to the standard of care intervention.Trial registrationThis study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01672541.

Dataset Information

State-level teen dating violence education laws and teen dating violence victimisation in the USA: a cross-sectional analysis of 36 states.

Publications

State-level teen dating violence education laws and teen dating violence victimisation in the USA: a cross-sectional analysis of 36 states.

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