Feasibility and Initial Evaluation of Project PEACE: An Intervention for College Students at Risk for Dating Violence

Abstract

Although dating violence is prevalent among college students, few programs have been designed specifically to prevent dating violence in this population. This article describes the development and initial evaluation of one such program: Project PEACE (Partner Enrichment to Address Conflict Effectively). Project PEACE seeks to reduce physical and psychological dating violence in both men and women by promoting skills in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, cognitive restructuring, and interpersonal communication. In a randomized controlled feasibility trial, 32 college students at risk for dating violence (indicated by past dating violence, hazardous alcohol use, high trait anger, relationship dissatisfaction, or relationship conflict) were randomized to a treatment or no-treatment control. Physical and psychological dating violence, attitudes on dating violence, and recognition that alcohol can lead to aggression were assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 1-month follow-up. Trends were observed in the expected direction for self-reported physical and psychological dating violence. Compared to the control condition, Project PEACE protected against increasing acceptance of abuse in dating relationships and heightened awareness alcohol could lead to aggression. Participants expressed satisfaction with the intervention. Results suggest Project PEACE is a feasible and promising approach to reduce risk of dating violence in college students. Larger scale evaluation of Project PEACE is recommended.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Online Intervention to Educate College Students About Dating Violence and Bystander Responses

“…Similarly, researchers tested the efficacy of Project PEACE, an in-person intervention to reduce dating violence with a small sample of college students ( n = 32; Jaffe, Schreier, & DiLillo, 2017). Findings were mixed with regard to anticipated changes in outcome variables.…”

Prevention interventions for interpersonal violence occurring under the influence of alcohol: A mixed method systematic review

“…In the study conducted by Satyanarayana et al (2016) over a 3‐month follow‐up, the intervention significantly decreased the severity of IPV perpetration among the alcohol‐dependent sample as compared to treatment as usual. Violence perpetration increased in one RCT study with a small sample ( n = 32); therefore, the result appeared to be driven by one participant's report (Jaffe et al, 2017). Violence victimization was reduced in two interventions addressed in three studies (Hartmann et al, 2020; Kalk et al, 2020; McGhee et al, 2021).…”

“…Alcohol use was also measured with The Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) instrument (Chermack et al, 2017; Hershow et al, 2021). Violence victimization and perpetration were mostly measured with the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2) (Brem et al, 2018; Chaudhury et al, 2016; Chermack et al, 2017; Hershow et al, 2021; Jaffe et al, 2017; Rhodes et al, 2015). The most common psychometric property reported was Cronbach's alpha, which varied from 0.56 to 0.95 between instruments.…”

“…Most of the studies ( n = 12) used standardized instruments assessing outcomes, including all RCTs (Chermack et al, 2017; Hartmann et al, 2020; Hershow et al, 2021; Jaffe et al, 2017; Rhodes et al, 2015; Satyanarayana et al, 2016), one mixed method study (Chaudhury et al, 2016), all quasi‐experimental studies (Lila et al, 2020; Romero‐Martinez, et al 2016, 2019) and one cross‐sectional study (Brem et al, 2018).…”

Educating College Students about Dating Violence Bystander Behaviors: Evaluating an Innovative Animated Intervention

“…Researchers tested the efficacy of bystander intervention programs and noted significant limitations. For example, Project PEACE, which is an in-person intervention for college students, had mixed findings (Jaffe et al, 2017). A study examining the Men's Project, an educational program for college men, found that when men had a support group, they were able to use bystander strategies while challenging their sexist environment (Barone et al, 2007).…”