Can adolescent dating violence be prevented through school-based programs?

摘要

EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES, AN ESTI-mated 10% to 20% of adolescents experience physical forms of intimate partner abuse.12 The costs of exposure to relationship violence during adolescence are high, with adolescents who are victimized experiencing higher rates of depression, anxiety, and associated social and health problems. Importantly, adolescent dating violence also predicts involvement in domestic violence in adulthood. Strong support for a causal link between exposure to relationship violence and poor health outcomes3'4 suggests that relationship violence prevention programs may have the potential to reduce the adult-health burden and improve the lives and well-being of adolescents. As a result, the prevention of relationship violence among adolescents is now recognized as an important public health problem and a prime candidate for intervention efforts.