Feasibility and Usability Study of an Internet-based Intervention Against Revictimization of Youth in Care and Care Leavers (EMPOWER YOUTH)

Youth in care, either institutionalized, foster or adoptive care, or care leavers (Y-IC) are considered a high-risk group for (re-)victimization experiences. Repeated victimization experiences are associated with far-reaching negative consequences. The current study evaluates a newly developed internet-based prevention program against victimization, called EMPOWER YOUTH, in an uncontrolled feasibility and usability pilot study. A mixed methods approach was chosen to evaluate user experiences, usability, acceptance, and adherence, both qualitatively in focus groups and quantitatively via the following questionnaires: Perceived Website Usability Scale (PWU-G) and Visual Aesthetics of Website Inventory (VisAWI). A total of 38 Y-IC registered for the study, of which 21 (age M = 16.65 years, SD = 1.52, range = 14-21 years) participated in the baseline assessment. Ten participants took part in the post assessment, with a dropout rate of 41%. Usability (PWU-G) and aesthetics (VisAWI) were rated above average (M ± SD = 5.76 ± 0.84; M ± SD = 5.86 ± 0.52). Two main categories were derived from the focus groups (n = 8), with four subcategories respectively: a) motivation for participation, b) emotional experiences, c) cognitive experiences, d) behavioral changes and future-oriented experiences, e) comprehensibility of and satisfaction with the content, f) functionality of individual elements, g) evaluation of the intervention aesthetics and design, and h) recommendations. The feasibility of EMPOWER YOUTH was confirmed with a high level of acceptance by its users. Minor adaptations were implemented based on user feedback to prohibit high dropout-rates.