Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the CDA-Stop Program: Cyberviolence Prevention Program for Adolescent Couples.

Abstract

Dating cyberviolence is a frequent problem among young people, with severe consequences both when it takes place and when establishing future relationships. This phenomenon has been on the rise in recent years, and there is increasing concern from governments and institutions to address it. However, there are not many programs to prevent it. The Cyber Dating Abuse-Stop program is proposed precisely with this objective: to prevent partner cyberviolence from an early age by adapting to their characteristics and addressing different variables related to it. A quasi-experimental design was used, with a control group and pre- and posttest measurements. Participants were 409 adolescents between ages 12 and 17 years; 236 participants who took part in the 12 sessions of the program, and 173 participants who were assigned to the control group. The program consisted of sessions that required active participation of the participants, including role playing, guided discussions, viewing of videos and clips, debates, etc. The program was effective in variables such as the ability to identify one's own cyberviolence, sexism, myths about romantic love, and the perception of Internet risks, with significant improvements in the experimental group compared to the control group. Other variables, such as self-esteem and empathy, did not improve significantly with the program. The program has been effective in preventing cyberviolence in dating relationships among adolescents. The implications of the results are discussed, as well as aspects to be considered in future program applications.