Intervention programs designed to promote healthy romantic relationships in youth: A systematic review

Abstract

Introduction and Objectives:To conduct a systematic literature review of intervention programs designed to promote healthy romantic relationships in youth (aged 12-25 years). The focus was on universal interventions that have the potential to be effective and widely implemented. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Social Science Database, and Embase. Articles were included if they were a randomized controlled trial (RCT) or quasi-experimental study and reported on a universal intervention aimed at promoting healthy romantic relationship knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among youth. Results: The search strategy identified 27 studies (26,212 participants). Interventions were found to be effective for improving healthy romantic relationship knowledge in the target population. However, the findings were mixed for intervention effectiveness in changing relationship attitudes/beliefs, and there was limited evidence to support change across behavioral outcomes. Conclusions: This review highlights the need for future research, including high quality RCTs with longer follow-up periods in a broad range of cultural and ethnic settings, to improve the generalisability of findings. Interventions for adolescents that improve knowledge and behavioral change relating to healthy romantic relationships have the potential to reduce mental and physical health problems during this phase of development.

Toward a Unified Framework for Positive Psychology Interventions: Evidence-Based Processes of Change in Coaching, Prevention, and Training

“…For example, job crafting interventions encourage people to redesign the workplace to be more need satisfying (Tims et al, 2013 ). Mate selection assistance or relationship enhancing skills help people create more supportive social niches in which to develop their lives (Siette et al, 2017 ; Hielscher et al, 2021 ; Veronese et al, 2021 ).…”

Effects of DARSI Intervention Program on Adolescents’ Perceptions of Love, Tolerance toward Abuse and Dating Violence Perpetration

“…The first romantic relationships have a significant impact on the psychosocial and affective development of adolescents [1][2][3][4], and it is therefore necessary to help them build healthy relationships. Hielscher et al [35] define a healthy romantic relationship as one characterized by strong communication and negotiation skills, caregiving behaviors, self-expression, respect, trust, honesty, and fairness. The same authors remark on the need for interventions to promote healthy romantic relationships in adolescents, highlighting how such interventions have the potential to reduce mental and physical health problems during this phase of development.…”

“…The same authors remark on the need for interventions to promote healthy romantic relationships in adolescents, highlighting how such interventions have the potential to reduce mental and physical health problems during this phase of development. Interventions designed to reduce or prevent teen dating violence while actively promoting healthy romantic relationship knowledge and skills have the potential to substantially improve youth health and wellbeing, securing healthier relationships in the future [35].…”

“…Taking into account the importance of implementing intervention programs focused on preventing teen dating violence and helping adolescents build healthy romantic relationships [35], this study aimed to assess the effects of the DARSI program on several variables linked to these purposes. More specifically, the objectives of this study were to assess the effects of the DARSI program in: (1) the reduction of attitudes of tolerance toward abuse in romantic relationships, dating violence perpetration, and unhealthy perceptions of love (linking love with control and dependence) in adolescents; (2) the increase of healthy perceptions of love (linking love with respect and communication) in adolescents.…”

“…The perceptions of a "love ideal" need to be discussed with adolescents in order to change unhealthy perceptions of love such as control, jealousy, and dependency for healthier ones such as tenderness, acceptance, communication, passion and respect. In this regard, adolescent dating violence prevention programs have been developed in recent years [13]; most are delivered in classrooms in middle schools or high schools and are aimed at reducing teen dating violence by targeting unhealthy attitudes and behaviors and promoting the development of healthy relationships and conflict resolution skills [35][36][37]. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis by Lee and Wong [13] indicated that dating violence prevention programs are effective at improving knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in adolescents, providing support for the implementation of these programs in adolescent populations.…”