Safe Dates Research & Evaluation
Safe Dates is an evidence-based program with strong, long-term outcomes. It was the subject of substantial formative research in fourteen public schools in North Carolina using a rigorous experimental design. The program was found to be effective in both preventing and reducing perpetration among teens already using violence against their dates.
Adolescents participating in the program, as compared with those who did not participate, also reported:
- Less acceptance of dating violence.
- Stronger communication and anger management skills.
- Less gender stereotyping.
- Greater awareness of community services for dating abuse.
Researchers studied the same group of students four years after implementation and found that students who participated in the Safe Dates program reported 56-92% less physical, serious physical, and sexual dating violence victimization and perpetration than teens who did not participate in Safe Dates. The program has been found to be equally effective for males and females and for whites and non-whites.
To learn more aboutSafe Dates research outcomes, click here.
