On-line program for the prevention of dating violence: mixed descriptive cross-sectional and post-test pre-test study

Dating violence (DV) is a public health problem for which intervention is necessary. The beginning of adulthood is where more relationships begin, and where it is required to prevent DV. Although various prevention programs have been developed in high schools, no effective programs have been developed at universities.

To identify the prevalence and associated factors of DV and to evaluate the effectiveness of a training program to prevent DV in college students.

Mixed, descriptive, cross-sectional pre-test post-test study. The study population included students at the University of Castilla-La Mancha. Data collection was conducted through an online questionnaire that included the following validated scales: the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationship Inventory (CADRI), the Cyber Dating Abuse Questionnaire (CDAQ), the Scale of Attitudes toward Violence (EAV), and the Violence in Intimate Relationships (IRV) scale. The intervention consisted of an online training program through training pills. The Ethics Committee approved the study.

A total of 354 students participated in the descriptive phase. A total of 85.6% perpetrated and 85.1% were victims of some type of violence, with psychological violence being the most common form of violence. 26 students participated in the pre-test post-test phase; there were differences, although not statistically significant, between the scores on the attitudes and knowledge scales. There were correlations between the scores obtained from perpetrating violence and the scale of attitudes toward violence and the knowledge scale. Among the factors associated with DV, having a history of violence and living with a partner were significant in increasing the risk of suffering and perpetrating any type of violence.

DV is a major problem today, with a high prevalence of young people involved. Owing to the high prevalence of violence, the lack of training and knowledge highlights the importance of preventive training programs to reduce dating violence.