Middle School Youth: Satisfaction With and Responses to a Dating Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Program

Abstract

This study examined how group composition influences students' level of satisfaction with a dating violence and sexual assault prevention program. A 10- to 12-session program was presented to 396 urban African American middle school students in mixed- and same-gender groups. Both males and females were significantly more satisfied with the mixed-gender program than the same-gender program; females in both programs were significantly more satisfied than the males in both programs. Students especially liked the class activities, discussion, and teacher involvement in the program. The study findings support the importance of taking group composition and gender into consideration, as well as, students' reactions and recommendations when developing prevention programs for young adolescents.

KEYWORDS:

• middle school youth
• dating violence
• primary prevention
• group composition

This project was funded by a grant from the Michigan Community Health Department.