INCORPORATING GENDER EQUITY AND BYSTANDER INTERVENTION CONTENT INTO SCHOOL-BASED TEEN DATING VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS
Open Access
Author:
Bryan, Morgan Q
Area of Honors:
Human Development and Family Studies
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Dr. Meg Leavy Small, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Lesley Anne Ross, PhD, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
teen dating violence prevention prevention programs adolescent adolescent development peer relationships middle school evidence-based programs adolescent relationships bullying bullying prevention bullying prevention programs
Abstract:
Teen dating violence is a persistent and pervasive threat to adolescents’ development. Although bullying prevention programs for adolescents have become ubiquitous in recent years, many of these programs address bullying in isolation from teen dating violence, despite evidence showing a strong relationship between bullying and teen dating violence. In this thesis, I address this disconnect in current teen dating violence prevention program development by reviewing current literature on the topics of adolescent development, bullying and teen dating violence, and prevention program curriculum. I analyze current and successful evidence-based teen dating violence prevention programs based on existing literature and provide suggestions to improve future programs such as the addition of gender norm and autonomy-promoting content into program curriculum. I then provide an example of a local teen dating violence prevention program, the Penn State Athletes Take Action program, developed by Centre County Women’s Resource Center. I provide specific suggestions for program improvement based on data collected from three middle schools in State College, Pennsylvania. The content of this thesis provides implications for combining evidence-based bullying and teen dating violence prevention components to promote healthy interpersonal relationships.
