TY - JOUR
T1 - A theater intervention to prevent teen dating violence for Mexican-American middle school students
AU - Belknap, Ruth Ann
AU - Haglund, Kristin
AU - Felzer, Holly
AU - Pruszynski, Jessica
AU - Schneider, John
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by a grant from the American Nurses Foundation . Ruth Ann Belknap, Ph.D., R.N., was a 2010 Sanofi Pasteur American Nurse Foundation Scholar.
PY - 2013/7
Y1 - 2013/7
N2 - Purpose: To test a theater intervention designed to raise awareness of the dynamics and consequences of teen dating violence (TDV) and to facilitate creation of nonviolent responses to TDV among Latino and Latina adolescents. The intervention was based on Theater of the Oppressed, which advocates the use of theater methods to explore social issues and to allow audiences to experiment with problem-solving, thereby promoting change. Methods: This study used a pretest-posttest, no control group, mixed-measures design to study 66 Mexican-American adolescents (mean age, 13.4 ± 5 years). Two plays containing subtle and overt signs of control and abuse were written and performed. Scripts were based on data from prior studies of TDV among Latino and Latina adolescents. At baseline, we measured sociodemographics, personal safety, and ethnic identity. Pre-post instruments measured acceptance of TDV, confidence to resolve conflicts nonviolently, and intentions to use nonviolent strategies to resolve conflict. We collected qualitative data via essay. Results: At posttest, participants had less acceptance of TDV (t = -2.08; p <.05), increased confidence to resolve conflicts nonviolently (t = 3.82; p <.001), and higher intentions to use nonviolent strategies (t = 3.35; p =.001). We analyzed 20 essays. Qualitative results provided context for understanding participants' changes in attitude, confidence, and nonviolent behavioral intentions. Conclusions: This adaptation of Theater of the Oppressed was an effective way to interact with Latino adolescents. In a safe setting, participants vicariously experienced TDV, which facilitated self-reflection and cognitive rehearsal strategies to respond nonviolently to TDV.
AB - Purpose: To test a theater intervention designed to raise awareness of the dynamics and consequences of teen dating violence (TDV) and to facilitate creation of nonviolent responses to TDV among Latino and Latina adolescents. The intervention was based on Theater of the Oppressed, which advocates the use of theater methods to explore social issues and to allow audiences to experiment with problem-solving, thereby promoting change. Methods: This study used a pretest-posttest, no control group, mixed-measures design to study 66 Mexican-American adolescents (mean age, 13.4 ± 5 years). Two plays containing subtle and overt signs of control and abuse were written and performed. Scripts were based on data from prior studies of TDV among Latino and Latina adolescents. At baseline, we measured sociodemographics, personal safety, and ethnic identity. Pre-post instruments measured acceptance of TDV, confidence to resolve conflicts nonviolently, and intentions to use nonviolent strategies to resolve conflict. We collected qualitative data via essay. Results: At posttest, participants had less acceptance of TDV (t = -2.08; p <.05), increased confidence to resolve conflicts nonviolently (t = 3.82; p <.001), and higher intentions to use nonviolent strategies (t = 3.35; p =.001). We analyzed 20 essays. Qualitative results provided context for understanding participants' changes in attitude, confidence, and nonviolent behavioral intentions. Conclusions: This adaptation of Theater of the Oppressed was an effective way to interact with Latino adolescents. In a safe setting, participants vicariously experienced TDV, which facilitated self-reflection and cognitive rehearsal strategies to respond nonviolently to TDV.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Dating violence
KW - Hispanic
KW - Intimate partner violence
KW - Mexican-American
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.02.006
DO - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.02.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 23583507
AN - SCOPUS:84879247477
SN - 1054-139X
VL - 53
SP - 62
EP - 67
JO - Journal of Adolescent Health
JF - Journal of Adolescent Health
IS - 1
ER -