Prevention of Dating Violence Among Adolescent Girls: A Feasibility Study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5020/23590777.rs.v25iEsp.e14925

Keywords:

gender violence, feasibility studies, adolescents, sexism, gender bias

Abstract

Violence in intimate relationships among adolescents, also known as dating violence, is considered a serious public health problem and a violation of human rights. The literature suggests that girls experience more serious outcomes associated with this violence. The objective of this article is to present the process of assessing the feasibility of an intervention carried out with girls to prevent dating violence. It is a pilot study of a mixed nature. The intervention consists of five group meetings, with activities based on the Promundo Institute manual. Five girls aged between 14 and 18, members of a social centre located in southern Brazil, participated in the study. The following instruments were used: 1) Sociodemographic Data Questionnaire; 2) Questionnaire on Attitudes towards Gender and Violence; 3) Ambivalent Sexism Inventory; and 4) Field Diary. Using these instruments, it was possible to investigate the team and participants' perceptions about the process, as well as to verify changes before and after the intervention. The participants highlighted the relevance of the themes and the need for a more extensive intervention. Engagement was observed among participants, as well as greater sensitivity to topics related to gender, sexuality, and associated violence. The results point to the suitability of the proposal and its impact on reducing sexist beliefs and attitudes related to gender and violence. Further studies are suggested to promote the prevention of dating violence in Brazilian contexts of social vulnerability.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Thaís de Castro Jury Arnoud, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Graduate in Psychology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul - PUCRS (2019). Acted as a scholarship holder in the PET Psychology at PUCRS - Tutorial Education Program linked to the Secretariat of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education (SESu/MEC) from 2015 to 2017. Was an undergraduate research assistant and later a PIBIC/CNPq scholarship holder in the Research Group on Violence, Vulnerability, and Clinical Interventions - GPeVVIC from 2018 to 2019. Master and PhD student in Psychology in the Graduate Program at PUCRS under the supervision of Professor Luísa Habigzang, PhD, with a sandwich period at Sapienza Università di Roma under the supervision of Professor Roberto Baiocco, PhD (2023/2024), funded by CAPES Print.

Julia de Oliveira Chotgues, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Psychologist graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). Specialist in Systemic Therapy for Individuals, Couples, and Families from the Center for Studies of the Family and the Individual (CEFI) and trained in Affirmative Therapies for Sexual and Gender Minorities from Sínteses. She holds a Master's degree and is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology from the Graduate Program in Psychology at PUCRS, under the supervision of Prof. Luísa Fernanda Habigzang in the Research Group on Violence, Vulnerability, and Clinical Interventions (GPeVVIC).

Isadora Zirbes Linhares, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Psychologist graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). Master in Psychology from PUCRS, conducted within the Research Group on Violence, Vulnerability, and Clinical Interventions (GPeVVIC), coordinated by Prof. Luísa Fernanda Habigzang, PhD. She is a post-graduate student in Developmental and Learning Psychology at PUCRS. Currently, she works in clinical psychology, practicing in a private office, and in school psychology, at Pastor Dohms School in Porto Alegre.

Laura de Oliveira Motta, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Master's student in Psychology in the Research Group on Violence, Vulnerability, and Clinical Interventions (GPeVVIC - PPGP/PUCRS). Works on projects focused on promoting mental health and guaranteeing rights for the LGBTQIA+ population. | Psychology student at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). | Graduate with a Teaching Degree in History from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS, 2021). Acted as an Undergraduate Research scholarship holder (BIC-UFRGS) linked to the research project From grief to struggle: social movements and the public debate on gender violence, from the 1960s to the present day.

Clarissa Pinto Pizarro de Freitas, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

CNPq Productivity Research Fellow, Undergraduate and Graduate Professor of Psychology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Post-Doctorate (UFRGS/2017), PhD (UFRGS/2016), and Master (UFRGS/2013) in Psychology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, graduated in Psychology from the Regional University of Alto Uruguai and das Missões (URI/2010), Specialist in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (UFRGS/2012), Coordinator of the Research Group on Health, Psychosocial Processes, and Work (GPSPPT), and member of the Center for Studies and Research in Organizational and Work Psychology (NEPOT). Conducted a doctoral internship at North-West University (África do Sul/2015), where she developed research, supervision, and teaching activities at the Optentia Positive Psychology Research Focus. She has experience in psychometrics, organizational psychology, and intervention evaluation. Member of the Psychometrics Research Working Group of ANPEPP. Has research cooperation with international investigators (Utrecht University, North-West University, among others) and national investigators (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, among others). Currently works investigating the impact of work and worker characteristics on the well-being levels and illness processes of professionals. Develops research focused on evaluating the psychometric properties of psychological instruments.

Luisa Fernanda Habigzang, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Graduate in Psychology from the University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (2003). Completed her Master's (2006), PhD (2010), and Post-Doctorate (2014) in the Graduate Program in Psychology at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). She is an associate professor in the Undergraduate Program and the Graduate Program in Psychology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). Coordinator of the Research Group on Violence, Vulnerability, and Clinical Interventions (GPEVVIC/ Graduate Program in Psychology/ PUCRS). She is an associate editor of the Psico PUCRS Journal. Vice-president of the Brazilian Association of Developmental Psychology (ABPD, 2023-2024). Council Member of the Brazilian Society of Psychology (SBP). Coordinator of the Youth, Resilience, and Vulnerability Working Group (ANPEPP). Coordinator of the Specialization Course in Clinical Psychology at PUCRS/UOL.

References

Arnoud, T. C. J. (2022). Fatores de risco para violência no namoro entre adolescentes: Uma leitura interseccional [Dissertação de Mestrado, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul]. Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da PUCRS. https://tede2.pucrs.br/tede2/handle/tede/10882

Arnoud, T. C. J., Chotgues, J. O., Marques, S. S., & Habigzang, L. F. (2023). Teoria da interseccionalidade, desafios para pesquisas empíricas e contribuições para a psicologia. Paidéia, 33, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-4327e3327

Arnoud, T. C. J., Linhares, I. Z., Rodrigues, G. R., & Habigzang, L. F. (2024). Dating violence victimization among sexual and gender diverse adolescents in Brazil. Current Psychology, 43, 13328-13338. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05378-3

Baugher, A. R., & Gazmararian, J. A. (2015). Masculine gender role stress and violence: A literature review and future directions. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 24, 107-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2015.04.002

Biroli, F., Vaggione, J. M., & Machado, M. D. C. (2020). Gênero, neoconservadorismo e democracia. Boitempo.

Borges, J. L., Heine, J. A., & Dell’Aglio, D. D. (2020). Variáveis pessoais e contextuais preditoras de perpetração de violência no namoro na adolescência. Acta Colombiana de Psicología, 23(2), 438-448. https://doi.org/10.14718/ACP.2020.23.2.16

Bowen, D. J., Kreuter, M., Spring, B., Cofta-Woerpel, L., Linnan, L., Weiner, D., Bakken, S., Kaplan, C. P., Squiers, L., Fabrizio, C., & Fernandez, M. (2009). How we design feasibility studies. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 36(5), 452-457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2009.02.002

Cardoso, B. L. A., & Costa, N. (2019). Habilidades sociais e violência contra a mulher por parceiro íntimo: Um estudo teórico. Interação em Psicologia, 23(1), 20-32. https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v23i1.53789

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [CDC] (2022, January 14). Preventing teen dating violence. Intimate Partener Violence Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/teendatingviolence/fastfact.html

Collins, P. H. (2022). Bem mais que ideias: A interseccionalidade como teoria social crítica. Boitempo.

Díaz-Aguado, M. J., & Arias, R. M. (2001). La construcción de la igualdad y la prevención de la violencia contra la mujer desde la educación secundaria. Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275033833_La_construccion_dela_igualdad_y_la_prevencion_de_la_violencia_contra_la_mujer_desde_la_Educacion_Secundaria

Durgante, H., & Dell’Aglio, D. D. (2018). Critérios metodológicos para a avaliação de programas de intervenção em psicologia. Avaliação Psicológica, 17(55), 155–162. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.15689/ap.2017.1701.15.13986

Formiga, N. S., Gouveia, V. V., & Santos, M. N. (2002). Inventário de sexismo ambivalente: Sua adaptação e relação com gênero. Psicologia em Estudo, 7(1), 103-111. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-73722002000100013

Fórum Brasileiro de Segurança Pública [FBSP]. (2019). Atlas da violência 2019. Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada. https://www.ipea.gov.br/atlasviolencia/arquivos/artigos/6363-atlasdaviolencia2019completo.pdfompleto.pdf

Garthe, R. C., Kaur, A., Rieger, A., Blackburn, A. M., Kim, S., & Goffnett, J. (2021). Dating violence and peer victimization among male, female, transgender, and gender-expansive youth available. Pediatrics, 147(4), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-004317

Glick, P., & Fiske, S. T. (1996). The ambivalent sexism inventory: Differentiating hostile and benevolent sexism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(3), 491-521. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.70.3.491

Green, J., Satyen, L., & Toumbourou, J. W. (2024). Influence of cultural norms on formal service engagement among survivors of intimate partner violence: A qualitative meta-synthesis. Trauma, Violence and Abuse, 25(1), 738-751. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380231162971

Hughes, K., Bellis, M. A., Hardcastle, K. A., Butchart, A., Dahlberg, L. L., Mercy, J. A., & Mikton, C. (2014). Global development and diffusion of outcome evaluation research for interpersonal and self-directed violence prevention from 2007 to 2013: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(6), 655-662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2014.09.006

Instituto Promundo. (2008). Program M. Working with young women: Empowerment, rights and health. https://healtheducationresources.unesco.org/library/documents/program-m-working-young-women-empowerment-rights-and-health

Lee C., & Wong, J. S. (2022). Correction to: Examining the effects of teen dating violence prevention programs: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 18(3), 695-705. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-020-09456-5

Lei nº 11.340, de 07 de agosto de 2006. (2006, 07 de agosto). Cria mecanismos para coibir a violência doméstica e familiar contra a mulher, e dá outras providências. Presidência da República. http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2004-2006/2006/lei/l11340.htm

Moura, J. Q. (2023). Avaliação e prevenção da violência para meninas em acolhimento institucional [Tese de Doutorado, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul]. Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações PUCRS. https://tede2.pucrs.br/tede2/handle/tede/11105

Murta, S. G., Moore, R. A., Miranda, A. A. V., Cangussú, E. D. A., Santos, K. B., Bezerra, K. L. T., & Veras, L. G. (2016). Efeitos de um programa de prevenção à violência no namoro. Psico-USF, 21(2), 381–393. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-82712016210214

Murta, S. G., Santos, B. R. P., Martins, C. P. S., & Oliveira, B. (2013). Prevenção primária à violência no namoro: Uma revisão de literatura. Contextos Clínicos, 6(2), 117-131. https://doi.org/10.4013/ctc.2013.62.05

National Institute for Health Research [NIHR]. (2017, February 01). Feasibility and pilot studies: Which programme should i apply to? http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/glossary

Oudekerk, B., Blachman-Demner, D., & Mulford, C. (2014). Teen dating violence: How peers can affect risk & protective factors. National Institute of Justice Research in Brief. https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/teen-dating-violence-how-peers-can-affect-risk-protective-factors

Reed, L. A., Tolman, R. M., & Ward, L. M. (2017). Gender matters: Experiences and consequences of digital dating abuse victimization in adolescent dating relationships. Journal of Adolescence, 59(1), 79-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2017.05.015

Ricardo, C., Nascimento, M., Fonseca, V., & Segundo, M. (2010). Program H And Program M: Engaging young men and empowering young women to promote gender equality and health. Pan American Health Organization.

Santos, K. B., Murta, S. G., Vinha, L. G. A., & Deus, J. S. (2019). Efficacy of a bystander intervention for preventing dating violence in Brazilian adolescents: Short-term evaluation. Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica, 32(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41155-019-0133-4

Silva, G. C. B., Nóbrega, W. F. S., Melo Neto, O. M., Soares, R. S. C., Olinda, R. A., Cavalcanti, S. D.´Á. L. B., & Cavalcanti, A. L. (2019). Distribuição espacial e perfil epidemiológico das notificações da violência contra a mulher em uma cidade do nordeste brasileiro. Arch Health Invest, 8(10), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.21270/archi.v8i10.3814

Taquette, S. R., & Monteiro, D. L. M. (2019). Causes and consequences of adolescent dating violence: A systematic review. Journal of Injury and Violence Research, 11(2), 137-146. https://doi.org/10.5249/jivr.v11i2.1061

Teofilo, M. M. A., Kale, P. L., Eppinghaus, A. L. F., Azevedo, O. P., Farias, R. S., Maduro Neto, J. P. M., Costa, A. J. L., & Cavalcanti, M. L. T. (2019). Violência contra mulheres em Niterói, Rio de Janeiro: Informações do sistema de vigilância de violências e acidentes (2010-2014). Cadernos Saúde Coletiva, 27(4), 437-447. https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-462X201900040302X

Vagi, K. J., Olsen, E. O.´M., Basile, K. C., & Vivolo-Kantor, A. M. (2015). Teen dating violence (physical and sexual) among US high school students: Findings from the 2013 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. JAMA pediatrics, 169(5), 474-482. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.3577

Vives-Cases, C., Sanz-Barbero, B., Ayala, A., Pérez-Martínez, V., Sánchez-San Segundo, M., Jaskulska, S., ... & Davó-Blanes, M. C. (2021). Dating violence victimization among adolescents in Europe: baseline results from the lights4violence project. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1414. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041414

Wincentak, K., Connolly, J., & Card, N. (2017). Teen dating violence: A meta-analytic review of prevalence rates. Psychology of Violence, 7(2), 224–241. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0040194

Wuest, J., Merritt‐Gray, M., Dubé, N., Hodgins, M. J., Malcolm, J., Majerovich, J. A., Scott-Storey, K., Ford-Gilboe, M., & Varcoe, C. (2015). The process, outcomes, and challenges of feasibility studies conducted in partnership with stakeholders: A health intervention for women survivors of intimate partner violence. Research in Nursing & Health, 38(1), 82-96. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.21636

Downloads

Published

2025-11-30

How to Cite

Arnoud, T. de C. J., Chotgues, J. de O., Linhares, I. Z., Motta, L. de O., Freitas, C. P. P. de, & Habigzang, L. F. (2025). Prevention of Dating Violence Among Adolescent Girls: A Feasibility Study. Revista Subjetividades, 25(Esp), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.5020/23590777.rs.v25iEsp.e14925

Issue

2025: Special Edition - Dossier: Psychosocial Interventions in Contexts of Vulnerability

Section

Dossier: Psychosocial Interventions in Contexts of Vulnerability

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Thaís de Castro Jury Arnoud, Julia de Oliveira Chotgues, Isadora Zirbes Linhares, Laura de Oliveira Motta, Clarissa Pinto Pizarro de Freitas, Luisa Fernanda Habigzang

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Para autores: Cada manuscrito deverá ser acompanhado de uma “Carta de submissão” assinada, onde os autores deverão declarar que o trabalho é original e inédito, se responsabilizarão pelos aspectos éticos do trabalho, assim como por sua autoria, assegurando que o material não está tramitando ou foi enviado a outro periódico ou qualquer outro tipo de publicação.

Quando da aprovação do texto, os autores mantêm os direitos autorais do trabalho e concedem à Revista Subjetividades o direito de primeira publicação do trabalho sob uma licença Creative Commons de Atribuição (CC BY NC), a qual permite que o trabalho seja compartilhado e adaptado com o reconhecimento da autoria e publicação inicial na Revista Subjetividades.

Os autores têm a possibilidade de firmar acordos contratuais adicionais e separados para a distribuição não exclusiva da versão publicada na Revista Subjetividades (por exemplo, publicá-la em um repositório institucional ou publicá-la em um livro), com o reconhecimento de sua publicação inicial na Revista Subjetividades.

Os autores concedem, ainda, à Revista Subjetividades uma licença não exclusiva para usar o trabalho da seguinte maneira: (1) vender e/ou distribuir o trabalho em cópias impressas ou em formato eletrônico; (2) distribuir partes ou o trabalho como um todo com o objetivo de promover a revista por meio da internet e outras mídias digitais e; (3) gravar e reproduzir o trabalho em qualquer formato, incluindo mídia digital.

Para leitores: Todo o conteúdo da Revista Subjetividades está registrado sob uma licença Creative Commons Atribuição (CC BY NC) que permite compartilhar (copiar e redistribuir o material em qualquer suporte ou formato) e adaptar (remixar, transformar e criar a partir do material para qualquer fim) seu conteúdo, desde que seja reconhecida a autoria do trabalho e que esse foi originalmente publicado na Revista Subjetividades.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC