The Safe Dates program: 1-year follow-up results

Objectives. An earlier report described desirable 1-month follow-up effects of the Safe Bates program on psychological, physical, and sexual dating vi olence. Mediators of the program-behavior relationship also were identified . The present report describes the I-yt ar follow-up effects of the Safe Da res program. Methods. Fourteen schools were in the randomized experiment. Data were gath ered by questionnaires in schools before program activities and 1 year alte r the program ended. Results. The short-term behavioral effects had disappeared at 1 year, but e ffects on mediating variables such as dating violence norms, conflict manag ement skills, and awareness of community services for dating violence were maintained. Conclusions. The findings are considered in the context of why program effe cts might have decayed and the possible role of boosters for effect mainten ance.