Dating CAFE Ambassador Programme: Chinese College Students to Help Peers in Dating Violence

Janet Yuen Ha Wong, Norita Ruby Tang, Jessie Ho Yin Yau, Anna Wai Man Choi, Daniel Yee Tak Fong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Dating violence prevention programs have been understudied in Asia, including China. The current study sought to evaluate the feasibility of the Dating Compassion, Assessment, reFerral, and Education (CAFE) Ambassador Programme in China. This program is designed to enhance the behavioral intentions of Chinese students to help peers who are experiencing dating violence and to compare students’ attitudes toward dating violence, students’ subjective norms about helping peers, and students’ perceived behavioral control in helping peers before and after attending the 7.5 hour program. A quasi-experimental design was used, including two student groups (n = 85) assessed at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Quantitative pre- and postintervention measurements, in conjunction with qualitative focus group interviews, were used to evaluate the program’s effectiveness. The findings indicated a significant enhancement in the behavioral intentions of participants in the intervention group to help peers experiencing dating violence, a stronger subjective norm regarding helping others, and an enhanced sense of perceived behavioral control to help, compared with the control group, over time. Focus group data revealed that students who participated in the program developed a more comprehensive definition of dating violence, increased awareness of dating violence in peers, a shift in their focus concerning the role of intention in dating violence and felt more responsible for helping their peers. The findings support the effectiveness of the Dating CAFE Ambassador Programme.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)981-990
Number of pages10
JournalHealth Education and Behavior
Volume46
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • bystanders
  • dating violence
  • intimate partner violence
  • students
  • university

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