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

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.

尽管约会暴力在大学生中普遍存在，但专门针对这一群体预防约会暴力的项目却寥寥无几。本文介绍了一个此类项目——“和平项目”（有效处理冲突的伴侣增进项目）的开展情况和初步评估。“和平项目”旨在通过提升专注力、情绪调节、痛苦耐受、认知重构和人际沟通等技能，减少男性和女性在约会中的身体和心理暴力行为。在一项随机对照可行性试验中，32名有约会暴力风险的大学生（根据过去的约会暴力经历、有害饮酒行为、高特质愤怒、恋爱关系不满意或恋爱关系冲突来确定）被随机分配到接受治疗组或无治疗对照组。在治疗前、治疗后和1个月的随访中，对身体和心理约会暴力、对约会暴力的态度以及对酒精可能导致攻击性的认知进行了评估。在自我报告的身体和心理约会暴力方面观察到了符合预期方向的趋势。与对照组相比，“和平项目”防止了在恋爱关系中对虐待行为接受度的增加，并提高了对酒精可能导致攻击性的认识。参与者对干预措施表示满意。结果表明，“和平项目”是一种降低大学生约会暴力风险的可行且有前景的方法。建议对“和平项目”进行更大规模的评估。